A Look At Our Weather As We Approach the Midday Hour

FORECAST FOR THE REST OF YOUR WEDNESDAY
Radar just after 11:00 am shows that nearly all of North/Central Alabama had dried out with the only exception being the extreme northwest corner of the area where a few very light showers are showing up. We still have partly to mostly cloudy skies and those clouds will hang around through the rest of the day. Temperatures were in the lower 50s to the lower 60s across the area. Montgomery was the warm spot at 60 degrees while Haleyville was the cool spot in Central Alabama at 52 degrees. Birmingham was at 58 degrees.

The latest HRRR is showing that we may have more showers form over the northern parts of the area during the afternoon mainly north of the I-20 corridor, but those will quickly move out of the area and we’ll be dry by the early evening. Daytime highs will top out in the lower 50s to the mid-60s across the area from northwest to southeast. After those showers move out this evening, skies will remain partly to mostly cloudy, and overnight lows will dip down into the upper 20s to the mid-30s across the area.

FULTONDALE TORNADO RATED EF-3
NWS Birmingham has released their findings on their damage survey of Fultondale, and they have determined that the damage lines up with an EF-3 rating with estimated maximum winds at 150 MPH. The twister first touched down along Chapel Hills Parkway just 5 miles to the north-northwest of Birmingham and moved in a northeast direction through the northern portions of Fultondale, and eventually crossing Highway 79 and lifting near Highway 75 in Center Point. The damage path reached up to 500 yards at its widest point and the tornado was on the ground for approximately 9.5 miles. Unfortunately, there was 1 fatality and 30+ injuries.

DONATIONS FOR FULTONDALE & CENTER POINT
Many locations around Central Alabama are taking donations for the victims of the Fultondale tornado that occurred late on Monday night. Items that are needed include hygiene products, feminine hygiene products, diapers & wipes, adult diapers and bed pads, ensure, formula, cleaning supplies, pet food, trash bags, work gloves, Gatorade, protein bars, pillows and blankets, laundry detergent, garbage bags, plastic totes, cases of water, socks (multiple sizes), gallon-size plastic zip lock bags, hand sanitizer, and face masks. If you would like to help out by donating items, food, or money, here are a few ways (that I have seen) you can do so…

• Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund: https://www.servealabama.gov/gerf

• City of Fultondale: We are only accepting cash, check, or money order donations. If using checks please make out to the City of Fultondale and reference TORNADO RELIEF on the memo. We have receipts we can give as well. All clothing donations can be dropped off at either Fultondale City Hall or Fultondale First Baptist Church.

• City of Gardendale: If you are looking for a way to assist those impacted, the Gardendale Civic Center is collecting items.

• City of Warrior: The City of Warrior Alabama is collecting items to assist those in and around the Fultondale area. You can drop off these items at Warrior Fire Station before Sunday. Kimberly Fire Department is assisting with donations and transportation of items collected. Items will be collected now through Sunday, January 31.

• City of Hoover: The City of Hoover is collecting items to assist those in and around the Fultondale area after a tornado caused major damage. You can drop off these items at any Hoover Fire Station before Sunday at 5 pm.

• Mercy Animal Clinic in Gardendale: Taking donations for pet food and supplies to help those in need.

I want to send a big thank you to all of those who have already helped out and to those churches, restaurants, food trucks, and other organizations who have set up shop in and around Fultondale to give out food and drinks to the people affected, the rescue workers, and to all who are helping Fultondale recover from this tragedy. It makes me proud of my home state for the turn out of all of the help.

Category: ALL POSTS