Gulf Coast Under Severe Weather Threat

Multiple areas are under the threat for severe thunderstorms today as a storm system moves through the Deep South. 

The severe storms will be the result of a disturbance moving from the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee Valley today. Warm and humid air advancing northward from the Gulf of Mexico will interact with cooler and drier air behind this disturbance, resulting in the expected severe thunderstorm development. 

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for southern Georgia and northern and eastern Florida. Cities in the watch include Dothan, Ala., Valdosta and Savannah, Ga., and Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando and Fort Pierce, Fla. Another Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued from eastern Arkansas to western Alabama. This includes Memphis, Pine Bluff, Ark., Tupelo, Miss., and Tuscaloosa, Ala.

This same disturbance will move into the Ohio Valley on Friday, with the threat for strong to severe thunderstorms to expand eastward across the Carolinas, southeast Georgia, and Florida. Meanwhile, a new disturbance will bring a threat for severe thunderstorms across Texas on Friday.  

Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become issued. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A warning means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.

The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today’s severe weather. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”