As we get closer to Friday, January 9, the Townsquare Media Weather Center continues to closely track the possibility of severe weather and the growing concern about heavy rainfall.
Here’s what you should know about the recent updates:
- The Storm Prediction Center has expanded the “Slight Risk” area for Friday slightly farther east across west-central Alabama. This means all of the Townsquare Media Coverage area is now in this zone. This includes the following counties: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, and Walker.
- Additionally, the potential for heavy rainfall has increased slightly since the last update, with totals now expected to approach 4 inches across the northwest sector of Alabama.
- Along with that, a Marginal Risk for severe storms is now in place for much of Central Alabama on Saturday, January 10. This includes all West Alabama counties.
The Storm Prediction Center Friday Risk Areas
Slight Risk (Level 2 out of 5) for severe storms across much of west-central Alabama.
Marginal Risk (Level 1 out of 5) extends eastward towards the AL/GA state line.
Possible Threats
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has identified four primary threats with this storm system.
- Damaging winds
- Brief tornadoes
- Large hail
- Heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding
“Confidence is high in rain amounts of 2-3″ over the northern half of Alabama, especially from I-20 north,” said James Spann, Alabama Weather Network and Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Chief Meteorologist. “Isolated amounts to 4″ are possible, and some flooding issues are very possible by Friday night or early Saturday morning.”
Timeline
Friday afternoon into the late evening hours, extending into Saturday…