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The Covington County Emergency Management Agency is warning residents of potential severe weather beginning this afternoon and into Friday morning.

According to CCEMA Director Susan Harris, there is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for most of the area.

“We expect isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop and move across much of the area late this afternoon. This will be followed with a line of storms moving across the area tonight into Friday morning. The line will likely slow a bit as it eases east of the I-65 Corridor as the main low pressure driving this whole system lifts more to the north as opposed to northeast. This may bring a temporary flash flood threat along the main rainband as it transitions from a severe thunderstorm  threat to a heavy rain threat early Friday morning (for a few hours) until it gradually moves east of the area during the few hours after sunrise New Year’s Day, or by 10 a.m. We do not anticipate issuing a Flash Flood Watch at this time.  The main threats associated with any severe storms will be damaging winds and a few tornadoes,” stated an CCEMA press release.

Some minor coastal flooding is possible tonight at the time of high tide mainly near northern Mobile Bay, but the potential impacts look too limited at this point for a Coastal Flood Advisory. A High Risk of rip currents is in effect through Friday night.  A High Surf Advisory is in effect for Alabama beach areas through Friday, and a High Surf Warning is in effect for western Florida beaches during this time as well. There will be another cool down behind this system, but not as significant as last week’s system.