Alabama's Late-Night Weather Surprise: What to Expect

Alabama is in for a stormy night, with severe weather on the horizon. The National Weather Service has issued a heads-up for damaging winds, heavy rain, and even a possible tornado. The western part of the state is expected to bear the brunt of these storms, with the threat easing as you move eastward. The storm's arrival is expected around midnight in western Alabama, and it will continue its journey eastward and southward throughout the night and into Sunday morning. Residents are advised to have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings overnight, such as weather radios or smartphone apps. The Storm Prediction Center has placed a Level 2 (slight) risk for a small area near the Mississippi border, indicating that scattered severe storms are possible. Meanwhile, most of the rest of Alabama is under a Level 1 (marginal) risk, meaning isolated severe storms could occur. Northeast and east-central Alabama are expected to remain unaffected by the severe weather. The storms could bring wind gusts up to 60 mph, which could lead to downed tree limbs and power lines. While the tornado risk is low, it's not zero. If tornadoes do form, they are expected to be short-lived. On the bright side, Alabama will receive some much-needed rain from this weather system. Although it won't significantly alleviate the ongoing drought, it could help prevent it from worsening in certain areas. The rainfall outlook suggests that some spots in southwest Alabama could see up to 2 inches of rain through Sunday night, while the rest of the state may receive anywhere from a quarter-inch to an inch. As the storm system moves out on Sunday, calmer and cooler weather will take over from west to east. Winds are expected to be breezy on Sunday, with cooler air becoming more noticeable by Monday and Tuesday mornings. Lows are expected to drop into the 40s across much of north and central Alabama and the 50s in south Alabama. Some areas in northern Alabama might even see temperatures in the 30s on Monday morning. Looking ahead, no severe weather is expected in Alabama for the rest of the week after tonight.