Major tornado outbreak is about to hit the South, with rare ‘high risk’ threat

A large tornado outbreak with high-end “violent” tornadoes is currently underway in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, with cities like Huntsville, Memphis and Nashville at risk from extreme weather conditions.

The big picture: The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center issued a rare category of 5 out of 5, “high risk” for extreme weather, including potentially “severe” tornadoes, for northern Alabama, central and northern Mississippi and western and central Tennessee.

Receive market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.

The last: The National Weather Service issued a “particularly dangerous situation” tornado watch for much of Mississippi and Alabama until 8 p.m. local time. The text of the day before indicates that “many tornadoes and several intense tornadoes” are expected in this area, as well as storms containing very strong hail and damaging straight line winds.

• The surveillance zone includes Jackson and Tupelo, Mississippi, and Birmingham, Alabama.

• The Storm Prediction Center states bluntly: “A dangerous environment is developing in the surveillance zone.”

• A big tornado passed south and east of Tuscaloosa at around 12:30 pm local time, causing a rare “particularly dangerous situation” tornado warning. This storm moved north-east towards Birmingham. A large tornado produced by this storm then touched down just south of Birmingham, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a tornado emergency, indicating a strong tornado on the ground in a populated area.

This tornado damaged house by famous Birmingham TV meteorologist James Spann, who was broadcasting from the TV studio at the time. He told viewers that his family is doing well, although his house has suffered significant damage.

The story continues

Based on radar imagery, that same severe thunderstorm was still producing a tornado as it passed through Georgia at around 3.35 a.m. local time.

The details: The stage is set for a dangerous day into the evening hours in the south as warm, humid air flows to the northern Gulf of Mexico, as does an area of ​​low pressure at the upper levels of the atmosphere. moves from the west. The fronts associated with these characteristics will help trigger several series of severe thunderstorms.

• Winds blowing at different speeds and / or in different directions depending on the height will ensure that storms have the propensity to rotate, putting large hail and tornadoes on the threat list.

• Storms first developed in central northern Alabama and Mississippi Thursday afternoon, with the threat moving north into Tennessee tonight overnight.

• The Storm Forecasting Center is warning residents of affected areas to expect some “violent and long-lasting tornadoes,” which could be devastating if they strike populated areas.

• In addition to this threat, “large to very large hail, and damaging hurricane-force winds are also possible over a large area stretching from the central Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachians. “the forecasters said.

Between the lines: Inclement weather in this area can be particularly deadly due to the types of housing prevalent here, including a large number of mobile homes.

• With a thick canopy of trees, hills and winding roads, tornadoes that can be shrouded in areas of heavy rain can be more difficult to spot than tornadoes on the Great Plains.

• Nighttime tornadoes are particularly deadly, in part due to the difficulty of warning residents and making sure they reach safe shelters in time. This severe thunderstorm outbreak is predicted to continue into the evening and possibly overnight.

This story is developing. Please come back for updates.

Learn more about Axios: Sign up to learn about the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free