Thunderstorms were intensifying across Central Alabama early this afternoon and a line of new storms was about to cross the Mississippi border into extreme West Alabama.
NWS/Birmingham has issued special weather statements (a Significant Weather Alert) for Sumter, Pickens and Lamar Counties until 1:15 due to those approaching storms from Mississippi and also for Tuscaloosa and Jefferson Counties until 1:15 due to storms already in the area. The Tuscaloosa/Jefferson County alert includes Bessemer, Brighton, Fairfield, Hueytown, Lipscomb, Midfield and Minor.
It was based on a strong thunderstorm 14 miles west of McCalla moving NE at 15. Strong winds up to 45 mph and very dangerous lightning can be expected. These storms are overdosed with lightning.
The alert for West Alabama, in Sumter, Pickens and Lamar Counties, was based on the storms crossing the border. Same situation–winds may gust as high as 45 mph and you do not want to be out in that lightning.
In all of these storms, horse sense would dictate that you not be out in a boat or out on a golf course.
Other strong storms were reported in Talladega County. A nice lightning show was reported by the 33/40 weather watcher in Childersburg. Lots of lightning, including a lot of cloud-to-ground strokes.
This is not all of the thunderstorms in Alabama, just the main ones. Other more isolated storms were over East-Central Alabama and widely separated across the north one-third of the state. Virtually all of the storms were moving toward the NE.
GREATER BIRMINGHAM AREA
If the thunderstorms in Tuscaloosa hold up, the Birmingham area should get a good drenching between now and about 2 o’clock this afternoon.
LATE RAIN REPORT
0.50 in Fayette, but the rain was tapering off, but some more storms are headed toward Fayette from East Mississippi.
MORE LATE INFORMATION
The Significant Weather Alerts issued by the NWS are coming so fast it is difficult to keep up to date. Some of the latest is a Significant Weather Alert for Chilton and Bibb Counties until 1:15, based on a thunderstorm 5 miles south of Ashby moving NE at 35. Same story as with the other storms–gusts up to 45 mph and extremely dangerous lightning.
A Significant Weather Alert for Talladega County until 1:15, including the City of Sylacauga. Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning and minor flooding. There is a report from the EMA on local flooding in downtown Sylacauga on Ft. Williams Avenue.
Time for all of us to use our common sense. If you see a dark cloud building overhead or hear a lot of thunder approaching, you can bet the lightning is extremely dangerous and you could get some storng gusty winds, it would be time to seek shelter. Don’t wait until an individual Significant Weather Alert is posted for your area.
