CLANTON, Ala. – Thunderstorms will develop ahead of a cold front moving quickly through the state on Thursday. During the morning hours and across the northern half of the state, scattered thunderstorms will occur.
During the afternoon, as atmospheric instability increases, the thunderstorms will likely become a broken to a solid line as they move through the southern half of Alabama.
Although a tornado or two is possible, the main threat with this system will be damaging straight-line winds with gusts up to 60 mph. A timing graphic is shown above. Due to the fast movement of the storms, one inch or less of total rainfall is expected at any one location and flooding issues are unlikely.
In addition, non-thunderstorm southerly winds ahead of the line will be on the increase Thursday morning and afternoon, sustained at 20-25 mph and gusts from 30-40 mph.
Scattered snow flurries or snow showers are likely north of I-20 from pre-dawn Friday and lasting into the evening hours due to very cold air aloft and residual upper-level moisture behind the front.
Although most locations will have temperatures above freezing on Friday with no road impacts, higher elevations (above 1300 feet) in eastern Madison, Marshall, Jackson, and De Kalb counties will have temperatures closer to 32 during the day with snow showers more persistent in these locations.
In these areas, accumulations around ½” may occur which would cause minor slushy accumulations and issues on bridges and roads, especially well protected roads, as temperatures Friday night will drop into the middle to upper 20s.
