Here is still another update on some very strong storms moving east out of Tuscaloosa County and now affecting parts of Jefferson and Bibb Counties. These storms could produce wind gusts up to 50 mph, dangerous lightning and very heavy rain.
The NWS issued a Special Weather Statement until 5:00 p.m. about these storms. It is also known as a Significant Weather Alert and it falls short of a formal Severe Thunderstorm Warning. If you are going to be traveling on I-65 south from Birmingham all the way through Shelby County and much of Chilton County, you may encounter some downpours with very poor visibility during afternoon drive.
The storms this afternoon have had a history of dumping extremely heavy rain in a short time. Daniel, the ABC 33/40 Skywatcher for Oxford near Anniston, reported 1.94 inches of rain with an earlier storm. He reports that the lightning is severe, so much so that he rushed to unplug everything in his home.
At Anniston Airport, 1.65 inches of rain fell between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.–most of it in only 30 minutes.
