We are getting ready for a significant severe weather event overnight here in Alabama.

The very intense segment approaching Ripley and New Albany in northern Mississippi are one hour west of Franklin, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties. Tornado warnings are in effect for these storms. Widespread wind damage is likely with these storms along with possible tornadoes.

THIS JUST IN…NWS Memphis continues Tornado Warning for Alcorn, Benton, Marshall, Prentiss, Tippah, Union [MS] till 10:30 PM CDT …AT 958 PM CDT…TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR RIPLEY…MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

WREG Memphis reports it is a large tornado.

In addition…the very dangerous strom that struck Stuttgart AR is now near Marks MS. It has certainly weakened a bit…but it is still very powerful…6.7 BTI…and is definitely capable of producing a tornado. It should move south of Oxford. We will deal with this storm in West Alabama’s Lamar and Marion Counties around or before midnight.

In addition to the tornado threat…as we have expected…a linear complex is likely forming. It will produce widespread straight line wind damage in addition to the possible tornadoes.

Folks…widespread wind damage is likely with this evolving complex…but the instability is still extremely high over North Alabama and increasing…and the shear in the atmosphere is very high…so these storms will hold together.

Remember Hurricane Elvis, which struck Memphis in July 2003? There are nuimerous reports of wind damage coming in now from Memphis and from northern Mississippi.

A long lived windstorm that can produce heavy damage over hundreds of miles of track over a wide area.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to take these storms seriously. Winds will be above 70 mph in the stronger storms. They will down countless trees overnight, knock out power, overturn mobile homes and cause structural damage.

Remember that striaght lines winds can produce as much damage as F1 tornadoes!

In addition…activity over SW Arkansas will move across NE Louisiana and into Central Mississippi later. A new tornado watch is coming for this activity.

Be alert. Stay informed. Know what to do. And take action if warnings are issued for your area.

A LATE REPORT…
Stuttgart [Arkansas Co, AR] NWS employee reports TORNADO at 08:08 PM CDT — areas near the Stuttgart Country Club received major damage. a gas station was destroyed.