WBRC declares First Alert Weather Day for storms through Thursday morning — Wsfa Weather
wsfa weather: WBRC designated Wednesday a First Alert Weather Day through Thursday morning as strong-to-severe storms are expected across Central Alabama. The Storm Prediction Center kept much of the WBRC viewing area in an Enhanced Risk, or three out of five, with the most dangerous weather expected from Wednesday afternoon into the overnight hours.
Forecasters said storms could begin developing early Wednesday afternoon in Marion, Lamar, Pickens, Greene, Fayette and Tuscaloosa counties, then reach the Birmingham metro from midafternoon through around midnight. South and east Alabama could see storms late Wednesday evening through the overnight hours.
Central Alabama timing
The earliest storms could form in the northwestern counties first, then spread east as the day goes on. If storms stay isolated before organizing into a line, they could produce damaging winds, large hail and an isolated tornado. Later Wednesday night, the storms are expected to organize into a larger line with damaging straight-line winds as the primary concern.
A few tornadoes may still be possible as that line moves south and east overnight. WBRC said viewers should have multiple ways to receive warnings overnight, when storms can arrive while many people are asleep.
Enhanced Risk for WBRC
The Enhanced Risk designation covers much of the WBRC viewing area and runs through Thursday morning. That forecast also includes heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding, with several inches of rain possible in a short amount of time in some spots.
Thursday is also a First Alert Weather Day because lingering storms and heavy rain concerns could continue into the morning. WBRC said the weekend forecast should trend quieter after the storm threat and any lingering rain Thursday.
Thursday morning and beyond
Mother’s Day Sunday could bring scattered showers and a few thunderstorms back into the forecast. For now, the immediate priority is the Wednesday-to-Thursday morning window, when severe storms and flash flooding can overlap across different parts of Central Alabama at different times.
