UPDATE (4pm 04/03/2023) — Lingering thunderstorms are straddling the I-10 corridor of the central and eastern Big Bend from the capital city east through Lee. These storms are causing pockets of heavy rain, occasional lightning, and wind gusts. The strongest gusts are in Madison County, where a severe thunderstorm warning was issued until 4:45.
A tornado watch remains in effect until 5:00 this afternoon. for several state line counties.
ORIGINAL STORY FOLLOWS
The unsettled pattern of late in the Southeastern U.S. will influence a ramp-up in our own storm possibilities today.
A cluster of thunderstorms moving west through the Deep South states this morning will approach the Chattahoochee River region by early afternoon. While the core of this cluster will be aimed more at middle Georgia, the southern extent of the system will clip some southwestern Georgia counties.
A warm front moving north from the Big Bend coast will help in developing scattered pockets of rain and storms. Winds from the inland storm cluster can clash with individual storms to enhance their chances to cause gusty winds, isolated hail, and a stray tornado. This combination can be more possible to occur from the Lake Seminole counties west in the Panhandle and southern Alabama, with isolated cases of severe storms elsewhere around the central Big Bend and south-central Georgia regions.
If and when stronger storms further strengthen, they can be intense with locally heavy rain, strong wind gusts, and possible severe-weather elements of large hail and damaging gusts. A stray, brief tornado is possible but the chances of that are limited.
Storms that move slowly or linger in a certain area can cause local flooding issues, with rainfall amounts that exceed two inches through mid-evening. While locally excessive rain totals are possible, the earlier flood watch in southwest Georgia was canceled.
A few local severe thunderstorm warnings can be issued for counties affected by such activity today. Be ready to stay in safe shelter if a warning is issued for your area.
