By Jim Stefkovich, Meteorologist, Alabama Emergency Management Agency
CLANTON – Wednesday, 5:00 am June 14, 2023
In a setup more like spring, multiple waves of thunderstorms moving across the state from early this morning through early Thursday will have a severe weather threat, especially this afternoon into tonight.
There is the potential for a few tornadoes including EF2+, pockets of straight-line wind gusts of 80 mph causing significant damage, and hail up to baseball size south of I-20. In addition, torrential rainfall could lead to flash flooding and Flood Watches are in effect across much of the state into Thursday.
For the remainder of this morning, a few storms could produce damaging straight-line wind damage and hail up to quarter size. The next wave of storms will enter the western portions of the state by early afternoon and intensify, with the severe threat ending across the northern half of the state around 12 am Thursday and the southern half around 5 am.
This will be a prolonged threat of severe weather so remain diligent in making sure you have at least two methods to receive warnings, one of which does NOT include an outdoor warning siren.
Redevelopment of strong to severe thunderstorms along with torrential rainfall generally south of Hwy 80 – I-85 will occur between 1 pm and 8 pm Thursday. Damaging wind gusts and large hail will be the main threats.
On Friday, yet another wave of storms will travel from northwest to southeast across the state, with a few damaging wind gusts possible.