Severe Weather Update: Birmingham At Enhanced Risk Thursday

BIRMINGHAM, AL — As a new storm system is detected by the National Weather Service in Birmingham, the chances of severe weather for the Birmingham area Thursday have become more likely.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather on much of Alabama, as far east as Scottsboro, Pell City, Clanton and Grove Hill. The rest of the state (east and south Alabama) is in a slight risk (level 2 of 5).

"We should point out that there are still differences in global model output, meaning some uncertainty in exactly how the day plays out," meteorologist James Spann said. "The best possible case is that a surface low is very close to us and provides a large mass of rain during the morning, limiting instability. In that case there would be a narrow window for severe storms along the cold front Thursday evening and night."

Spann said conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms with large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, including a few strong, violent tornadoes.

"For now it looks like the main window for severe thunderstorms will come from about noon until midnight Thursday," Spann said. "We will be much more specific about the magnitude of the threat and the timing later today and Wednesday morning, but needless to say everyone will need to be in a position to hear severe weather warnings Thursday. You should have a good plan after last week’s event; be ready to use it again."