Birmingham, Ala. – Central Alabama residents should prepare for strong thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, with damaging winds up to 60 mph possible as storms move across the region. The National Weather Service placed much of central Alabama under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather.
According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop ahead of a cold front pushing in from the northwest. While storms will be isolated, those that form could quickly intensify, producing dangerous wind gusts strong enough to down trees and power lines.
The risk area includes Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Anniston, and surrounding counties. Travel could be impacted by falling debris or sudden power outages during the evening commute. Emergency managers recommend securing outdoor items, avoiding unnecessary driving during peak storms, and ensuring devices are fully charged in case of outages.
The threat is expected to diminish later tonight as the cold front continues moving through Alabama, but more unsettled weather may follow into midweek.
