Weather update: Shelby County now under highest severe weather risk

Published 12:58 pm Friday, March 14, 2025

By Alec Etheredge

The NWS in Calera has upgraded areas in central Alabama, including all of Shelby County, to a 5 out of 5 risk level for severe weather on Saturday. (Contributed)
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

After being upgraded to a level 4 severe weather risk on Thursday, the National Weather Service out of Birmingham has now upgraded Shelby County to a level 5 risk—the highest risk on the scale.

The NWS made the decision to upgrade around 12:40 p.m. on Friday due to the dangerous threat for tornadoes, straight line winds and large hail.

“When we look at severe weather potential, specifically tornadoes, we look for instability (energy), wind shear (turning of the winds at low levels AND differences in speed between the low levels, and the upper levels), LCL heights (how high the base of the cloud will be), hodograph shape, and many other things. Every single parameter is there Saturday afternoon. Every single one,” said the National Weather Service on Friday afternoon. “Some of these parameters are strong, some are very strong.”

The upgrade makes a tornado outbreak more likely on Saturday with the majority of the state facing at least a 4 out of 5 risk and areas with areas on a line from just north of Jefferson County to just north of Montgomery all included in a 5 out of 5 risk from the Mississippi-Alabama state line to near the Georgia-Alabama state line.

According to NWS, supercell thunderstorm development would be supported due to the expected unstable environment. Storms could include long track, violent tornadoes.

Residents are encouraged to have multiple ways to get alerts about the weather, know where their “safe place” is and to continually check for updates. The time frame for the severe risk ranges from 2-11 p.m. on Saturday.

“This will be a very scary situation for many,” the NWS said. “We have a flooding threat, very large hail threat, severe damaging wind threat, and the potential for long track tornadoes.”
They added that the atmosphere is so strong, there isn’t a lot that will weaken the storms.
“Please take this seriously and please do what you can,” the NWS said. “Please be safe. Do the absolute most to keep you, your family, your pets and those around you safe. Don’t panic, but be ready. Be prepared.”
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a State of Emergency for the state this weekend as well.
If you need a safe place to stay, storm shelters across the area will be open. A list of shelters is below:

More 280 Reporter

Westminster OM advances in Class 2A baseball playoffs

Briarwood sweeps doubleheader, beats Holtville and advances in playoffs

Archer, Poe shine as Vincent sweeps West End in round one

Chelsea sweeps Brookwood in opening round of 6A playoffs

Print Article

SportsPlus

  • Polls

    What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...