The latest Mesoscale Discussion from the SPC states that there may be some increase in the severe weather risk over Central Alabama over the next few hours, including the potential for a couple of tornadoes.
We have a few clusters of storms out there across the central and southwestern parts of the area that are staying well-behaved and not showing any threats of becoming severe at the moment.
NWS Huntsville removes Madison, and Morgan counties in North Alabama from the Tornado Watch, leaving Cullman, DeKalb, Jackson, and Marshall counties in the watch until 2 am Sunday morning.
At 1040 PM CST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
The SPC along with NWS Birmingham has issued a new Tornado Watch until 5 am for the following counties in Central Alabama: Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston.
At 942 PM CST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
We may see an uptick in storms across North/Central Alabama during the late-night and overnight hours as the environment will remain highly sheared and models are showing that there may be an increase in storm intensity as they will be moving into virtually untapped air.
At 903 PM CST, Gauge reports and radar trends indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain will force Indian Creek in the Madison area above flood stage. Flash flooding is expected to begin as this occurs near this creek.
At 838 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Pisgah, or 9 miles northeast of Scottsboro, moving east at 50 mph.
Latest objective analyses indicate a continued/gradual decrease in mixed-layer instability across the region, ongoing in conjunction with diurnal boundary-layer cooling.
At 828 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Stevenson, or 12 miles northeast of Scottsboro, moving east at 45 mph.
At 825 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hollywood, or 8 miles northeast of Scottsboro, moving east at 55 mph.
At 817 PM CST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
At 739 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located near Redstone Arsenal, moving east at 55 mph.
Our long time friend, mentor, and charter Weather Factory member, J.B. Elliott, passed away on May 11, 2015. Click HERE to read James' tribute.
