The potential for tornadoes, some of which could be strong, is part of a severe weather threat across Alabama starting early next week and continuing perhaps into Wednesday.

The Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma states in its forecast discussion today that the potential severe weather outbreak could include "strong tornadoes."

The National Weather Service forecasting office near Birmingham repeated the SPC's concern for the possibility of strong tornadoes while the forecasting office in Huntsville kept the threat for now at "brief tornadoes."



The Mobile forecasting office also provided for the potential of tornadoes, though mostly west of the I-65 corridor since the threat is not as great in southeast Alabama.



The storms are expected to sweep across Alabama in waves, which could lead to a series of severe weather events. With more than two days until the initial potential threat, however, timing and details on the severe weather threats are uncertain, weather officials said.

According to the Birmingham weather office, the third round of severe weather is of the most concern because it is most closely associated with an advancing cold front – which could provide the ingredients for strong tornadoes. Preliminary timing would be from midday Tuesday to midday Wednesday, according to the Birmingham office.

The repeated waves of severe weather, which are expected to be slow moving, could lead to flooding.

Along with tornadoes and heavy rain, large hail and damaging winds are expected with the severe weather.

The storms are expected to be part of a system that begins in the southern Plains on Saturday and advancing to the east. The Storm Prediction Center has marked an area in much of Arkansas as well as parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana as being in a moderate threat for severe weather on Sunday.

Updated today, April 25, 2014, at 2:25 p.m. with graphic from Storm Prediction Center.

Updated today, April 25, 2014, at 4:05 p.m. with a gallery of weather maps and graphics.