Severe Thunderstorm Warnings continue for Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, St. Clair and Talladega Counties. This has been an especially severe storm in the Birmingham area with some of the worst lightning you can imagine. These quick notes:
* Peak wind gust of 72 mph at Birmingham Airport (that is almost hurricane force). Visibility was down to 1/4 mile in extremely heavy rain.
* Power is out in the Avondale area of East Birmingham with trees and power lines down.
* Birmingham Fire Department has a structure fire at 4224 5th Court North.
* Trussville Fire Department has requested the Street Department to be called out. There were reports of it being especially bad on Lake Street. A later report from Trussville Fire at 5:54 p.m. said that Lake Street is now open. At one time, Lake Street was impassable. One report indicated that a tree was across a house witih a lady still in the house.
