Birmingham, AL – Residents across central Alabama may only have a few hours to prepare before a line of severe storms arrives tonight, bringing the risk of tornadoes, damaging winds up to 70 mph, and large hail across the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, severe storms are expected to begin developing after 9 p.m. Sunday, first entering northwest Alabama near Hamilton, Jasper, and Fayette between 9 p.m. and midnight. The storm line will then track southeast across the Birmingham metro between roughly 11 p.m. and 3 a.m., before pushing toward Montgomery, Auburn, and Eufaula between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday.
Central Alabama is under a Level 3 (Enhanced) severe weather risk, meaning multiple severe storms are likely. The primary hazards include tornadoes, wind gusts up to 70 mph, and hail up to quarter size.
Warm, windy conditions during the day Sunday will help fuel storm development. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the upper 70s to near 80 degrees, while southerly winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts near 40 mph remain in place ahead of the storms. A Wind Advisory remains in effect through 1 p.m. Monday across much of central Alabama.
Major highways including I-20, I-59, I-65, and I-85 could experience sudden visibility drops and hazardous travel overnight as storms move through.
Because the strongest storms may occur while many people are sleeping, officials stress the importance of having multiple ways to receive warnings, including phone alerts and weather radios. Severe weather alerts could be issued rapidly as storms move across the region tonight.
