Alabama was bracing for heavy rain, gusty winds and the possibility of tornadoes on Thursday thanks to nearby Tropical Storm Francine.
Francine made landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday as a Category 2 hurricane but is weakening now that its center is over land in southern Mississippi.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect for Alabama’s coastal areas on Thursday morning.
Rain bands from the storm have the potential to cause several weather issues in Alabama today.
TORNADO THREAT
A tornado watch has been issued for part of south Alabama and will be in effect until 1 p.m. Thursday:
The Alabama counties in the watch are Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Monroe and Wilcox.
It was a surprisingly quiet night across the southern part of Alabama, although a tornado watch was in effect earlier for southwest Alabama. It was allowed to expire at 6 a.m. and was replaced with the watch above.
There has only been one tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service in Mobile as of 6 a.m., and it was for the Florida Panhandle.
Forecasters across Alabama will be watching rain bands from the storm as they track over Alabama through today.
The W. Napoleon Ave drainage canal, behind guard rail, is about even with the road which is submerged with floodwaters. The W. Napoleon drainage canal overtopped after a deluge of rain from Hurricane Francine in Metairie, La., in Jefferson Parish, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)AP
Those rain bands will bring periods of heavy rain, gusty winds and could generate a tornado or two, with better chances later this morning through the afternoon and evening hours.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has much of Alabama in a Level 2 out of 5 (slight) risk for severe weather today, which means that scattered severe storms will be possible (see today’s forecast at the top of this post).
A Level 1 severe threat will linger across part of Alabama into Friday:
A Level 1 severe weather risk will linger over part of Alabama on Friday in the areas in dark green.SPC
HEAVY RAIN
Rain from Francine could really add up across parts of Alabama today, and flood watches are in effect for much of the state through Friday.
Here is the forecast for rain through Friday:
Parts of Alabama could get up to 6 inches of rain from Francine.NWS
The weather service said rain could be heavy at times through Friday.
ALONG THE COAST
Along the coast, the weather service in Mobile said tropical storm conditions will be possible through the morning.
There will be a high risk for rip currents through Friday afternoon. In addition, surf of 7 to 10 feet will continue today before backing off by this evening.
The weather service said coastal flooding was peaking this morning around 3 feet in Mobile Bay and along the coast. There have been multiple reports of water over roads in coastal areas.
WINDS
The Alabama counties in brown will be under wind advisories today.NWS
Winds will also be gusty across the rest of Alabama, and the much of the state will be under a wind advisory today. Gusts could be as high as 30-40 mph through today, forecasters said.
