That cluster of strong storms that developed way down over East/Central Alabama early this afternoon continues to march north into NE Alabama. At 4:50 p.m., the strongest storms extended from NE Jefferson County across St. Clair and Etowah Counties into Cherokee County in extreme NE Alabama. Some of the strongest storms were near Gadsden and along the Etowah/DeKalb County line into North Cherokee County. They were moving north.
The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement (Significant Weather Alert) for DeKalb County until 5:30. Alerts were issued earlier for Blount and Etowah Counties until 5:00.
Those Alerts are for strong storms that can produce wind gusts that can blow down small trees and also produce some small hail. There has been a lot of lightning in these thunderfstorms.
A Significant Weather Alert falls just short of a more serious Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
These storms may move into Marshall County later and also spread northward toward Ft. Payne.
Meanwhile down south, thunderstorms had grown stronger again and a Significant Weather Alert was posted for Autauga and Lowndes Counties until 5:30. Some of those stronger storms were due west of the Montgomery area.
There were still other very strong storms way down in extreme South Alabama in Conecuh County near Evergreen.
All of these storms are not related to Hurricane Ike–not even distant kin.
