ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - We’ve declared tomorrow afternoon from noon to 8 PM as a First Alert Weather Day for South Georgia. The threat of severe weather isn’t necessarily significant, but it’s the first credible threat of severe weather we’ve had in our area since May! A lot of residents may be rusty on what to do in case of severe weather, so we’re using today to educate South Georgians before the weather gets spicy tomorrow.

• Have multiple ways to receive watches and warnings. The WALB First Alert Weather app is a great baseline for that. Our meteorologists update the app on a regular basis. In case of severe weather, we will send out push alerts through the app and have the capability to “geofence” alerts for specific areas for specific threats.

• Know where to go when severe weather threatens. School’s out for the kids, and a lot of you are off work today as well, but know where your safe place is in all areas where you spend a significant amount of time. I always tell kids in schools to play the “wall game” at home. Find the room that has the most walls between it and the outside. Each wall is a barrier from winds and possible flying debris.

• Know the difference in a watch and warning. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe weather in a given area. A warning means severe weather has been sighted or detected by radar.

• Just because it’s not a tornado warning doesn’t mean not to take it seriously. We could see several severe thunderstorm warnings tomorrow. Just because it doesn’t have the word “tornado” in it doesn’t mean it can’t potentially threaten life and property. Severe thunderstorms carry damaging 60+ mph winds and hail larger than one inch in diameter (or the size of a quarter).
• “Be the hero.” Not everyone watches local news (although we wish they did!) In 2026, more and more apps and gadgets and gizmos take our attention away from our surroundings. You can “be the hero” by letting your family and friends know to keep an eye to the sky tomorrow for possible severe weather. Let them know the First Alert Weather team will be here keeping you updated as well and will break in on air and online should conditions warrant. We’re not only your Hometown News Source but your Hometown Weather Source as well.

Again, this isn’t a significant or higher-end threat...for those who remember, this won’t be anywhere close to resembling the tornado outbreak that affected the area in January 2017. Our main intention is to make you aware of the threat of severe weather since we’ve had a MUCH welcomed break in severe weather dating back to last spring.

More information to come!

-Meteorologist Dana Barker

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