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2d ago

Severe Storms Threaten Alabama During NOAA Weather Radio Outage

NWS Birmingham ensures uninterrupted weather alerts via alternative channels as scheduled updates silence radio broadcasts through May 21.

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A map from NWS Birmingham shows the areas at highest risk for tornados on Tuesday night.
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Overview

  • The National Weather Service's Birmingham office began a planned outage of NOAA Weather Radio transmitters on May 19 for a mandatory AWIPS software update, lasting until May 21.
  • Severe weather, including damaging winds, large hail, and potential tornadoes, is forecast for northwestern and central Alabama on May 20 and 21.
  • Weather alerts and forecasts remain accessible through internet services, weather apps, wireless emergency alerts, and backup operations from NWS Peachtree City, Georgia.
  • The radio outage affects multiple Alabama regions, including Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Anniston, as part of a nationwide upgrade schedule running through June.
  • The update follows a weekend of deadly storms across 10 states, which caused at least 28 fatalities, underscoring the importance of reliable weather warning systems.