First Alert Weather Day: Tornado Watch issued for multiple Alabama ...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A Tornado Watch has been issued for the following counties until midnight:

• Fayette, AL
• Greene, AL
• Lamar, AL
• Marion, AL
• Pickens, AL
• Sumter, AL
• Tuscaloosa, AL
• Walker, AL
• Winston, AL

We have declared a First Alert Weather Day for tonight into early Sunday morning. A strong low pressure system moving across the Southeast will bring the possibility of heavy rain and a chance of strong to severe storms as it moves into Central Alabama after 6 p.m. CST tonight.

Much of our area along and northwest of I-20/59 is under a slight risk -- Level 2 out of 5. Areas farther east are under a marginal risk -- Level 1 out of 5. Storms will be capable of producing heavy rain, gusty winds, and lightning, but isolated storms could produce damaging wind gusts or a brief tornado. The main window for any potential severe threat will be between 6 p.m. tonight to 4 a.m. CST tomorrow morning as storms move in from the northwest and push to the southeast. Make sure you have a reliable way to receive alerts in case a watch or warning is issued for your area -- especially since storms will be coming through at night.

As of 5 p.m. CST Saturday evening, First Alert AccuTrack is still fairly quiet across Central Alabama, but damaging storms in Mississippi and Tennessee will be approaching our northwest counties over the next couple of hours. An additional line of showers could develop behind the main line, but this batch will hold no severe threat -- just keeping some lingering rain around areas east through late Sunday morning. Winds will continue to be on the breezy side and ahead of and during the storms.

Rainfall Potential: The latest guidance hints that we could see around one to two inches of rain across Central Alabama. Higher totals will be likely in northwest Alabama. Areas south and east of Birmingham may trend drier with rainfall totals around an inch. Rain over the weekend should improve our drought conditions across the state.

Cold Front Coming: The cold front will likely move through Alabama early Sunday morning. Temperatures are forecast to rapidly drop behind the cold front. Our high temperature on Sunday will likely occur shortly after midnight. Once the front moves through, temperatures will likely drop into the 50s. By tomorrow afternoon, we could see breezy conditions with temperatures cooling into the upper 40s. So, the afternoon will be brisk and drier with some breaks of sunshine. We will likely start next week dry and cool. Temperatures Monday morning could drop below freezing with most of us in the upper 20s and lower 30s. Monday afternoon will end up sunny and cool with highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Freezing temperatures will likely return Monday night into Tuesday morning with most of us in the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Looking Ahead: Next week is shaping up to be dry with near-average temperatures. It’ll be a chilly start to the week, but temperatures will slowly warm closer to average with highs in the mid to upper 50s with overnight lows in the 30s. Our next chance to see rain may not occur until next weekend around December 16-17, 2023.

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