WEATHER SUMMARY
Stormy holiday shopping weather is expected today with the threat for significant severe weather Christmas morning through Christmas night. A powerful low pressure system will drag a strong cold front across the region on Christmas Day. Ahead of the front, we'll be in the warm sector as unseasonably warm, moist, unstable air flows in from the Gulf. All of these elements are creating a SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER in SE Mississippi, SW Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle with the risk of storms producing tornadoes during the day with some tornadoes possibly strong. There will be strong wind shear in place, which is the change of wind speed and direction with height, this increases the risk for rotating storms. Large hail, heavy rain and damaging wind are also possible tomorrow.
A squall line of thunderstorms just ahead of the front will plow eastward reaching the I-65 corridor tomorrow evening, it should shift east of Destin out of our viewing area by midnight. This line could ramp up and produce straight line winds up to 60 to 80mph, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.
Be ready to take cover at a moment's notice. Know your safe place, should your neighborhood fall under a warning. Make sure you can receive the latest watches/warnings, keep the channel on Local 15. The safest place to be in a severe weather event is in a sturdy building, at the lowest level, away from windows.
Holiday readings will be mild, highs today in the low 70s, with overnight lows in the 60s. On Christmas Day, we'll soar into the mid 70s.
Meteorologist, Kelly Foster
