Rain was increasing early tonight over NW and Extreme North Alabama. At 6:45 pm, some of the heaviest rain was from about Vernon and Sulligent, in Lamar County, extending north and NE to near Decatur and Huntsville.
Still no real big amounts in Alabama. A few measurements:
0.51 at Haleyville
0.26 at Muscle Shoals Airport
0.23 in Bankhead National Forest
0.22 at Hamilton (Skycam)
The rain in NW Alabama was part of a broad band that extends south and southwest across North and West Mississippi into Louisiana. Rain has been much heavier in those areas. These amounts just since noon today:
1.61 inches at Baton Rouge
1.18 at Alexandera, La.
0.84 at McComb, Miss.
0.97 at Greenwood, Miss.
ADDITIONAL DAMAGE REPORTS
At 4:35 pm, wind damage 5 miles SSE of New Roads, La., windows blown out and debris was across a highway. In the same general area, two homes were unroofed. NWS/New Orleans reported it as a possible tornado.
TORNADO WATCH
Continues until 9 pm, CST, for SE Louisiana and four counties in Extreme South Mississippi. The NWS/SPC (Storm Prediction Center) also has part of SW Alabama outlooked for a slight risk of severe weather overnight. It is from about Butler, Camden and Greenville southward to the Gulf Coast. Does not appear to be a significant threat.
LIGHTNING
Early tonight almost all of it was from along the Louisiana Coast southward into the North Gulf of Mexico.
ALABAMA OUTLOOK
This large area of rain will continue to spread eastward overnight but it will not get a speeding ticket. One to two inches of rain can be expected eventually. Here in Central Alabama, most of the heavier rain will be later tonight and through much of Friday morning. Maybe a break in the rain for most of Saturday, then here we go again for Sunday when it could become heavy again.
