A powerful thunderstorm complex is moving across western Alabama.
It is a derecho, a long lived thunderstorm complex that produces a wide swath of wind damage along a long path. This one originated this morning in eastern Oklahoma, gaining strength as it has moved east southeast.
Ahead of the line, a solid area of severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect.
Right now…warnings are in effect for…
…eastern Lauderdale
…eastern Colbert
…western Lawrence
…Marion
…Winston
…northern Walker
…Lamar
…Fayette
…and northern Pickens
The line arcs from just east of Russellville to west of Fayette back to Columbus MS.
Some of the heaviest activity right now is near Vernon in Lamar County. Lamar County EMA reports a 62 mph wind gust in Vernon.
We will have to also watch out for spinups along the line that could produce isolated tornadoes.
There is widespread wind damage in the Memphis area, where at least 175,000 are without power.
News folks in Memphis are saying that it harkens back to Hurricane Elvis, which struck Memphis in July 2003. Not quite that bad, but still memorable. WREG has lost power and is working from the studio on generator.
Hopefully, the derecho will lose a little steam as it starts to encounter rain cooled air from the earlier storms over Alabama, but until it does weaken, it will be a formidable system.
Get ready for winds of 60 mph or high, which can bring down trees, tree limbs, signs and power lines. Power will go out. Mobile homes can be overturned or destroyed.
To the east, thunderstorms, not severe, are across Cherokee and northern Cleburne Counties.
Other storms are over Elmore and Autauga Counties.
Everything is moving east southeast.
