Huntsville, Alabama – Strong thunderstorms could move across northern Alabama and southern Middle Tennessee this afternoon, bringing damaging winds and hail.
According to the National Weather Service in Huntsville, a medium chance of severe storms is expected to develop across the Tennessee Valley between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday. Storms may organize into clusters capable of producing wind gusts of 60 mph or greater, which can down tree limbs, damage power lines, and cause scattered outages.
Forecasters also warn that hail around 1 inch in diameter is possible in stronger storms. While the overall confidence is lower, the weather service says a tornado or two cannot be ruled out if storms intensify during the evening hours.
Timing will vary across the region. Western areas near Florence and Russellville could begin seeing storms as early as 2 p.m., while the threat may reach Huntsville and Cullman between roughly 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Farther east, including Fort Payne and Stevenson, storms could continue into the 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. timeframe.
Meteorologists say residents should prepare now in case warnings are issued later today. That includes knowing where to seek shelter, ensuring weather alerts are enabled on mobile devices, and monitoring reliable forecast updates.
The storms are expected to move through the Tennessee Valley during the late afternoon and evening hours before gradually weakening overnight.
For commuters, storms during the late-day drive could bring sudden downpours and gusty winds that reduce visibility and create hazardous travel conditions.
The National Weather Service encourages residents across the region to stay weather aware throughout the afternoon and evening as conditions evolve.
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