Strong Storms over Jefferson County
LATE REPORT: 525 pm
The storm near the Birmingham Airport did produce nickel sized hail (just below severe limit) at 5:09 p.m. at Tarrant.
Winds gusted to 23 mph at the BHM Airport. No rainfall though. Darn.
An intense thunderstorm has formed over northeastern Jefferson County, just north of the Birmingham Airport. It could even contain some small hail. But it does have torrential rain, deadly lightning and gusty winds. This storm will affect the Center Point area.
The left panel of the graphic is the base reflectivity, showing wall is basically reaching the ground. The right panel is composite reflectivity, which indicates the precipitation that is suspended aloft as well.
Another cell is moving up from the Eastwood Mall area that will merge with the first cell, producing brief ramp up in the storm. Be alert for the lightning, wind and hail. The storm could briefly become severe.
The peach polygon on the graphic is a significant weather alert from the NWS, which is below a severe thunderstorm warning.
Storms are intensifying rapidly in the Forestdale area as well. They will move toward Gardendale.
Another storm is north of Talladega approaching I-20.
Otherwise, storms are generally scattered in the I-20 Corridor with others west of Montgomery along US-80.
Everything is drifting slowly northeast this afternoon. There is almost no wind shear, so they will actually fall apart pretty quickly.
Category: Alabama's Weather