Christmas Day storms could be severe
Christmas is a time for celebrating with family, but this year it’s going to be very important to be aware of the weather, Jessica Talley, a forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Birmingham, said Monday.
Forecasters are expecting a major weather outbreak tracking from Texas across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and into Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.
“People will be traveling and celebrating,” Talley said. “But it’s very important to have a way to get weather information and warnings.”
Storms are not expected to move through the Gadsden area until late afternoon or evening. “But we’re telling everyone to be aware all day,” Talley said.
There is a possibility of large hail, tornadoes and damaging winds. Some thunderstorms ahead of the cold front could produce tornadoes or straight-line wind damage, Talley said.
“They can be just as dangerous, so we don’t want to downplay straight-line winds,” she said.
Even though there is a possibility of tornadoes throughout the day, the main threat to the Gadsden area is expected to be from about 7 p.m. on, Talley said.
“It’s not really going to be exiting that area until about 3 a.m.,” she said. “There’s going to be a potential for severe weather until the cold front moves through.”
Some meteorologists have compared the threat to the storms of April 2011. However, Talley said they try not to compare any event to another.
“Every event is different,” she said, while noting that the models are similar to the ones of April 15, 2011 — a day which often is overshadowed by the storms of April 27, 2011.
Talley said the storms moving through could be potent, with a moderate risk to areas south of Gadsden. Gadsden is in an area of slight risk, she said.
After the cold front moves through, temperatures are expected to drop dramatically. However, there is not a lot of moisture expected to be in the air, so there should not be any problems with winter weather conditions.
“It’s going to be a good idea to prepare for the cold weather, too,” Talley said.
Art Faulkner, head of the state Emergency Management Agency, said local EMA officials are being briefed on the forecast, and he is keeping Gov. Robert Bentley informed about the threat.