Severe storms tile

Tennessee weather report

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Forecasters warn of a possibly severe outbreak of storms across the central part of Tennessee.

Near-record high temperatures Friday afternoon and moisture-rich Gulf air will collide with an approaching cold front and thunderstorms will intensify.

Some moderate storms had developed before dawn Friday in Middle Tennessee.

The most dangerous tornado risk area, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, is expected to be from Middle and East Tennessee, northward across Kentucky to the Ohio River. NWS said a few long track tornadoes are possible.

Temperature and winds will increase across Friday and the cold front will move through, triggering storms from about noon near the western Tennessee River Valley through mid-evening farther east.

Strong wind and heavy rain was likely up the valley between Chattanooga and the Tri-cities.

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North Georgia weather report

Forecasters say isolated tornadoes are possible in parts of north Georgia and much of the central part of the state.

The National Weather Service says that strong wind shear will fuel the risk for severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes in the area.

The weather service says the most likely time for severe storms will be Friday night, with storms striking northwest Georgia during the early evening hours.

The storms are expected to move into the rest of north Georgia and much of central Georgia later, during the remainder of Friday night.

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North Alabama weather report

Forecasters say more threatening weather is headed toward Alabama.

The National Weather Service says severe storms are likely across north Alabama from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. The weather service says there's a chance of long-track tornadoes, strong winds, flooding and large hail.

The parts of the country at highest risk for tornadoes are north of Alabama in Tennessee and Kentucky, but the weather service says northern Alabama still has a medium risk for twisters. Chances of problems are less across the southern end of the state.

The city of Birmingham and Walker County are dismissing students early because of the possibility of strong storms, and more systems could do the same.