Rare Severe Weather Warning Issued as Damaging 75 mph Winds, Tornadoes Approach
A powerful cold front is bearing down on the Southeast, and forecasters are sounding the alarm well ahead of its arrival — a sign of just how seriously they're taking Monday's threat.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee in a Level 3 out of 5 "Enhanced Risk" for severe weather, an unusually high designation to issue this many days in advance. The core of the threat sits over central Alabama and Mississippi, where the probability of severe weather reaches 60%. That rating signals the potential for widespread, persistent storms capable of producing wind gusts of at least 75 mph or tornadoes rated EF-2 or stronger. And it could go even higher.
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Forecasters Are Considering a Level 4 Upgrade — One of the Rarest Ratings in the Region's History
FOX5 meteorologist Mike Thomas says the Storm Prediction Center is actively weighing a push to a Level 4 out of 5 "Moderate Risk" — a designation so rare that only a handful have ever been issued for this area. "Really speaks to the magnitude of how concerned they are about wind damage potential here Monday," Thomas said.
Storms are expected to develop sometime between early afternoon and around sunset Monday. The system should move through relatively quickly, but could deliver a dangerous punch — damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes all remain on the table.
Forecasters note there is some chance the storms underperform if clouds and cool air linger Monday morning, limiting available energy. But given the level of concern from the Storm Prediction Center, residents are strongly urged not to count on that outcome.
After the severe weather clears, temperatures are expected to crash. Highs Tuesday and Wednesday may only reach the upper 30s to lower 40s.