A line of strong thunderstorms continues pushing south southeastward across Central Alabama this afternoon.
Two main concentrations of heavy weather now…
…over eastern Shelby up into southern St. Clair and western Talladega Counties. The core of this is a big storm just northeast of Columbiana. It is pushing southeast. A significant weather alert has been issued for Shelby and Talladega Counties. Skywatcher reports 51 mph win gust at Forest Hills in Childersburg AL.
That storm could become severe as it moves through southern Talladega, and into parts of Clay, Tallapoosa and Coosa Counties.
LATE NOTE 1:15
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN TALLADEGA COUNTY UNTIL 145 PM
Pretty dangerous line segment from near Talladega to Columbiana…will affect Sylacauga, Childersburg and areas just south of Talladega…
…a large area of rain and storms from northern Sumter through northern Greene into Tuscaloosa Counties…the biggest storm is passing just south of the City of Tuscaloosa at this time…it briefly became very intense as two thunderstorm cells merged near the Tuscaloosa Airport…some intense lightning with this one…also pushing southeast…generally west of US-82.
Light to moderate rain with some thunder covers much of St. Clair, Calhoun and Etowah Counties.
Rain cooled air and a meso-high cover areas behind this line now. I doubt there will be much development behind the main line this afternoon, but we will be monitoring.
Ahead of the line as it sags south, high moderate to strong instability will fuel the storms over the next few hours. With light shear, the storms will not be very organize, but will be capable of producing brief damaging wind episodes. They are also producing torrential rains that are causing ponding on roads and some minor flooding. If you get two or more inches in an hour, which is certainly possible south of a line from Tuscaloosa to Calera to Talladega, you could see flash flooding.
Remember…turn around, don’t drown.
Widespread storms will continue to develop in the unstable area south of the lnie, as is shown on radar now. A severe weather thunderstorm might be issued later for areas south of the sinking line.
RAINFALL NOTE
1.54 at the Birmingham Airport in the past six hours. This on top of the 0.50 recorded last night.
