Wednesday’s Severe Weather Has the Potential to Be a Significant Outbreak

The National Weather Service Birmingham and Storm Prediction Center have briefed emergency managers concerning tomorrow's severe weather risk.

According to Townsquare Media newsman Don Hartley, weather authorities are making it plain that emergency managers and the public should take this risk seriously. The severe weather setup has the potential to be a significant outbreak.

Here are the notes from this morning's briefing:

Another band of possible severe weather could affect the state with an Enhanced risk for the western and northern part of the state and a stronger Moderate risk for most of eastern and southern portions. The NWS is showing concern this system is more significant than Monday's.

• This system will develop over top of the State vs moving in from the West. Most systems move in from the west allowing NWS to determine the complexity and strength of the system. By forming over the top of the state, NWS will not be able to give much of a heads-up based on what has happened upstream because WE WILL BE the upstream for GA and the Carolinas.

• This system is forecast to develop in two, possibly three, waves of activity:

• FIRST WAVE: Between 4-7am tomorrow morning with the most likely greater threat being large hail and damaging winds to the Northern portion of the state and possible strong long-track tornadoes south of Shelby.  This First wave could extend until 10am or as late as noon.

• The NWS is expecting a lull mid-afternoon possible noon to 1:00 or 2:00 PM

• SECOND WAVE: A greater potential threat is expected with a second wave of new cells developing over the State between 4-7pm. This threat could produce some strong, long track tornadoes. This second wave should end by 10pm.
• THIRD WAVE?: A third wave is possible overnight tomorrow night depending on energy remaining in the atmosphere.