MOBILE, ALABAMA — The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Mobile and surrounding parts of coastal Alabama under a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather through late tonight and early Monday morning, as a strengthening storm system moves along the eastern Gulf Coast.
The latest SPC Day 1 Outlook, issued late Sunday night, highlights Mobile within the core risk area, where atmospheric conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for strong to potentially severe thunderstorms.
Why Mobile is at risk
According to SPC analysis, Mobile is positioned near the northern edge of warm, unstable Gulf air, where several key ingredients are coming together:
- Increasing moisture streaming north from the Gulf of Mexico
- Strengthening winds aloft creating wind shear
- A developing storm corridor along the coast
This setup supports thunderstorms capable of becoming organized, especially during the overnight hours when storms may intensify as they move inland.
Main threats for Mobile
While not everyone will see severe weather, storms that do develop could produce:
- Damaging straight-line winds
- Isolated tornadoes, particularly within stronger storm cells
- Locally heavy rainfall leading to brief flooding in poor drainage areas
The SPC notes that the Slight Risk area represents locations where scattered severe storms are possible, not guaranteed — but conditions are supportive enough to warrant close attention.
Timing of concern
For Mobile, the window of greatest concern appears to be:
- Late Sunday night through early Monday morning
- Storms may arrive from the southwest and move northeast
- Some storms could occur while most residents are asleep
Because of the overnight timing, weather officials stress the importance of having multiple ways to receive warnings, including weather radios and mobile alerts.
What residents should do
Mobile-area residents are encouraged to:
- Stay weather-aware overnight
- Ensure emergency alerts are enabled on phones
- Know where to take shelter if a warning is issued
- Avoid unnecessary travel during storms
Bottom line
Mobile sits squarely within the SPC Slight Risk zone for severe storms, meaning the potential exists for damaging winds or an isolated tornado as storms move along the Gulf Coast overnight. While this is not a high-end outbreak setup, the risk is real and localized, especially given the overnight timing…