Here are the counties included in Tornado Watch number 857 that goes until 4 p.m. CST today for North Alabama…
BLOUNT CALHOUN CHEROKEE
CLAY CLEBURNE COLBERT
CULLMAN DEKALB ETOWAH
FAYETTE FRANKLIN JACKSON
JEFFERSON LAMAR LAUDERDALE
LAWRENCE LIMESTONE MADISON
MARION MARSHALL MORGAN
RANDOLPH SHELBY ST. CLAIR
TALLADEGA WALKER WINSTON
COOSA is also included…
In North Alabama, it appears that the main threat will come with the squall line, which is now approaching the Alabama/Mississippi border. Given the intense wind shear with this system, embedded supercells in the line may produce tornadoes and wind damage. Large hail is also possible.
Further south, over Central and South Alabama, instability levels will be higher and there is a chance that we could still see some supercell thunderstorms develop ahead of the main line, especially with a little sunshine breaking through.
Several folks have asked about the potential for development behind the squall line, and that is not out of the question until the cold front moves through later. The main threat with any of these storms would likely be large hail with colder tempertaures aloft.
