That’s what Mother Nature will throw at us over the next 48 hours.
1. Severe weather
Right now we have a possible tornado in the Prattville area. The storm is triggering a Tornado Vortex Signature on radar. A trained spotter reported heavy lightning and cloud rotation. Tornado warning for parts of Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery Counties. Millbrook and northern parts of the city of Montgomery are under the gun next.
Another tornado warning for Autauga, Dallas and Lowndes Counties…possible tornado on radar near Moss, moving toward Hayneville.
A boundary is lying across Central Alabama. South of the boundary, the airmass is more unstable. A tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. from Pickens, Tuscaloosa and Jefferson Counties and points south down to the Montgomery area. The greatest threat of tornadoes in coming hours will extend from near and south of Tuscaloosa down through Bibb and Chilton Counties and points southeast.
The boundary will move north ahead of a strong upper disturbance and developing surface low that will move our way tonight. Along and north of it, strong storms and heavy rain will continue for several hours. Storms were intensifying over West Alabama’s Pickens County, extending into Tuscaloosa County. A severe thunderstorm warning was in effect just across the Mississippi line in Noxubee County. These storms will edge back up into Shelby and Jeffferson Counties with time. There could be hail and damaging winds as well as isolated tornadoes along the boundary.
2. Flash Flooding
A flash flood warning is in effect for much of Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties. More heavy rain is moving across these counties and the flooding that is occurring will worsen. Many streets were underwater around Tuscaloosa earlier.
A flash flood watch is in effect for Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Cullman, Dallas, De Kalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties until 6 a.m. Saturday.
Doppler radar estimates show widespread 2-3 inch rains over West Alabama’s Lamar, Fayette and Walker Counties and well as Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some 5 inch amounts when all is said and done.
Remember, turn around, don’t drown.
3. Winds outside storms
A lake wind advisory is in effect for southerly winds that will reach 10-20 mph with high gusts through this this afternoon.
4. Colder temperatures and the S Word
A strong cold front will push through the area Saturday morning, sending temperatures down through the day. As an upper low rotates across the area Saturday night, there will be enough moisture for overnight snow showers. Light accumulations are possible. Not everyone may get accumulations, but a dusting may be fairly common, with up to 2 inches in spots, especially northeast of Birmingham. We will pay more attention to that later on…
