Finally, overall, most of the Alabama thunderstorms are going downhill. That doesn’t mean that they are headed south. That is weather lingo for declining in intensity. Let’s look at it by locations:
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
The strong thunderstorm that moved across the Tuscaloosa/Northport area is now up in the NW corner of Tuscaloosa County around Samantha, Moore’s Bridge and New Lexington and along US-43. This cluster of thunderstorms is headed into South Fayette County and should reach Fayette in a few minutes with strong gusty winds, heavy downpours and possibly some hail. This cluster of storms uprooted several trees across the Tuscaloosa area including Taylorsville just south of Tuscaloosa. There was some brief hail as large as the size of quarters at the Wal-Mart in Northport.
SHELBY COUNTY
Several trees uprooted and several reports of hail in places like Alabaster, Calera, Pelham and Helena. One home was struck by lightning in Pelham. Those storms have weakened overall with the stronger ones now across NE Shelby County, including places like Harpersville and Westover. Brian Peters reported 0.55 rain in Helena.
EAST ALABAMA
NWS/Birmingham issued a Special Weather Statement for Calhoun, St. Clair and Talladega Counties until 8:00 tonight. This was because of a strong thunderstorm near Riverside, which is about 8 miles NE of Pell City, moving north at 8. One-half inch diameter hail and winds up to 40 mph are expected with this storm. It was headed in the general direction of Riverside and Neely-Henry Dam.
EXTREME NW ALABAMA
NWS in Huntsville issued a Special Weather Statement (a Significant Weather Alert) for Central Colbert County until 7:45. The strong thunderstorm was 8 miles SW of Tuscumbia and moving NE ever so slowly at only 5 mph. This storm is expected to produce small hail (pea size), but wind gusts up to 50 mph and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. It was moving toward Crooked Oak, Posey Loop, New Bethel, Colbert Heights and US-72. Some earlier strong storms moved through Madison County. Some of those were crossing into Tennessee. There were also strong storms over Eastern Franklin County moving north.
SOUTH ALABAMA
A number of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued this afternoon and early evening in South/Central Alabama. Most of those storms have weakened, but there were still some marginal ones over Eastern Wilcox County and NW Monroe County.
