It’s going to be a stormy night here in Alabama. And potentially a stormy Saturday as well.
A tornado watch is in effect for Northwest counties until 12 midnight. Those counties are Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Winston, Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison and Morgan.
Numerous thunderstorms are over North Mississippi late this afternoon.
Storms near Oxford are severe and potentially tornadic. The storm east of Oxford has become very intense and is headed toward New Albany.
This activity may reach extreme Northwest Alabama around 7 p.m.
The area of thunderstorms will move into West and Northwest Alabama tonight, and gradually push east and southeast overnight. Severe weather is likely over Northwest Alabama down into West Alabama.
The storms should gradually weaken through the evening hours as the best dynamics moves out to the north. But the cold front will not arrive until Saturday afternoon. If the atmosphere has the chance to recharge with some sunshine, the upper dynamics will support more severe weather from any storms that manage to form, especially over eastern sections of the state during the afternoon.
This has been a significant severe weather outbreak so far. Tornadoes were reported about an hour ago in Tennessee near Dyersburg and Clarksburg. Seven fatalities were reported in Arkansas from the storms.
