BIRMINGHAM, AL — Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall Friday night and accelerate inland, bringing a high-impact wind event to Alabama. Damaging wind gusts, downed trees, and power outages are all possible across Central Alabama. The most significant impacts are expected between 9 PM Friday and 11 AM Saturday. Friday has been declared a First Alert Weather Day as residents prepare for the storm.
Rain Arrives Friday Evening and Spreads North Overnight
Rain could begin reaching southern parts of Central Alabama as early as 5 to 6 PM Friday. Future radar for 6 PM shows rain moving into areas near Brent, Clanton, Marion, Demopolis, Alexander City, Eclectic, and Auburn.
Rain will continue spreading north through the evening and overnight hours. Heavier pockets are shown near Eclectic and Auburn as the first bands arrive.
Tropical Storm-Force Gusts Expected Late Tonight
Winds will steadily increase Friday night, with sustained speeds of 20 to 30 mph. Tropical storm-force gusts exceeding 40 mph are possible late tonight into early Saturday morning, with locally higher gusts.
Winds of this strength can bring down trees and power lines, leading to scattered outages. Residents should secure loose outdoor items, charge devices, and prepare for possible power loss overnight.
Limited Tornado Threat Focused on Far East Alabama
The overall tornado risk remains limited but not zero. Far East Alabama will be watched most closely, where the risk could increase into Saturday afternoon…