The National Weather Service in Mobile/Pensacola has expanded the risk for severe storms Saturday, projecting a regional outbreak to rang across the areas of south Alabama.

Isolated severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and large hail are possible Friday night. Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour (MPH), with quarter-sized hail are expected and tornadoes cannot be ruled out.

On Saturday, isolated supercells will develop late in the morning through the afternoon ahead of a squall line that will swing across the area. Strong, long-track tornadoes, strong winds and large hail are possible, said Jessica Chase with NWS.

“The timing and coverage of thunderstorms Friday night into Saturday morning will impact the severe potential later in the day,” Chace said. “If storms don’t develop or end before sunrise, the environment will support significant severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening (most likely scenario). If storms develop and linger on Saturday morning, this could contaminate the environment leading into Saturday, limiting the severity of storms (less likely scenario).”