Birmingham, Alabama – Damaging winds up to 60 mph could sweep through central and northern Alabama Friday afternoon into early Saturday, bringing a risk of downed trees, power outages, and quarter-sized hail.
According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, a Level 3 out of 5 severe weather risk is in effect from 2 p.m. Friday through 1 a.m. Saturday, with the primary concern being strong straight-line winds. The most intense storms are expected to move across areas like Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Gadsden, and Anniston between late afternoon and midnight.
The threat timeline varies by location—Tuscaloosa and Hamilton may see activity begin as early as 2–5 p.m., with Birmingham and Jasper in the 5–7 p.m. window, and Montgomery and Auburn facing impacts closer to 9 p.m.–1 a.m. Even outside those hours, non-severe storms could still bring lightning and heavy rain.
Drivers should avoid travel during peak storm times, especially on interstates like I-20, I-65, and I-59. Residents are urged to charge devices, secure outdoor items, and stay weather-aware via NOAA radios or mobile alerts.
Severe thunderstorm warnings could be issued with little notice. The storm threat lingers through early Saturday, with additional updates expected as conditions evolve.
