The Tennessee Valley of extreme North Alabama has been hit by several tornadoes and there is considerable damage. However, within the last 15 or 20 minutes, some of the most intense thunderstorms have crossed over into Southern Tennessee, mainly west and southwest of Chattanooga. The storms are moving rapidly northeast. A good part of Tennessee is under a High Risk of severe weather today and tonight and at least two-thirds of Alabama are under a Moderate Risk including all of North and Central Alabama.
At 11:10 a.m., there were no strong thunderstorms within at least a 50-mile radius of Birmingham.
Earlier some homes were destroyed near Huntsville. The high school was damaged but no known injuries. Perhaps one of the more significant reports of damage was at Limestone Prison. Numerous fences were down and there are multiple injuries at the prison. Another report tells of an 18-wheeler being overturned on Jeff Road.
Remember, we must emphasis that this is a major threat of severe weather, so we must keep our guard up all afternoon and all night. We cannot rule out some long-track tornadoes, even in Central Alabama, later this afternoon. Individual thunderstorms this afternoon will become severe. This weather pattern tends to favor them forming a long line of thunderstorms late today and tonight and racing toward the east and southeast rather quickly. These type storms almost always create a lot of damage, not only to homes and buildings, but uprooting thousands of trees.
So it is important all afternoon and night to stay alert and keep abreast of the very latest weather information and be ready to take action quickly.
