Good Soaking Rain! Some lightning… Thursday Update 7:30 PM

Many of us are getting a good soaking rain this evening. There are some pretty healthy thunderstorms over Sumter County, but so far, they are just below severe limits. The rain has started in Tuscaloosa and Northport this evening and is becoming heavier. All of the rain is moving from north to south. There is a bit of lightning involved, so go indoors when you hear thunder. Some places are getting over 2 inches of rain in the heavier thunderstorms. Many spots west of I-65 will pick up half an inch of rain or more.

This rain will continue for many folks in west Alabama through much of the evening and early tonight. We’re in a setup where storms could move in at any time, so be aware that thunderstorms can develop quickly. The severe weather threat is low, but some storms may grow strong to severe.

We will remain in the pattern of on and off thunderstorms through the weekend and early next week, as rain chances stay high. It won’t be an all day rain, but if you have outdoor plans over the weekend, keep the radar handy.

Send us your weather pictures to weather@wvuatv.com.

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Big Storms In West Alabama… Update at 6:23 PM Thursday

There’s a lot of rain happening right now in west Alabama, with strong to severe storms happening for many counties right on the state line. The first batch of storms is moving through northern Greene and Sumter County and the second batch of storms are in Marion and Lamar County. All storms are moving southeast to south.

Expect strong winds, small hail, very heavy rain, and lots of cloud to ground lightning with all of the storms. Go indoors when you hear thunder. Look for periods of showers and storms through the weekend. It won’t rain all day.

Send us your weather pictures to weather@wvuatv.com.

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Dangerous Storms Over West AL… Severe T-storm Warning for Pickens, Greene, Sumter, Lamar County Until 6:30 PM Thursday

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…GREENE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA… SOUTHERN PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA… NORTHWESTERN SUMTER COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

* AT 527 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL…AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED  ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PICKENSVILLE TO GORDO…AND MOVING  SOUTH AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… ALICEVILLE…EUTAW…GARDEN…MEMPHIS…MCMULLEN…JENA…BENEVOLA
  AND MANTUA.

THIS INCLUDES…INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 32 THROUGH 52…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION…MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS…CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES LEADING KILLERS. REMEMBER… IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER…YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

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WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Damage Reports… Updated Thursday at 5:18 PM

-Hamilton [Marion Co, AL] emergency manager reports TSTM WND DMG at 04:05 PM CDT — many trees down across marion county.
-Hamilton [Marion Co, AL] emergency manager reports LIGHTNING at 04:15 PM CDT — structure set on fire by lightning in hamilton.

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Severe T-storm Warning for Lamar, Pickens County Until 5:45 PM Thursday

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…
  NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 545 PM CDT

* AT 450 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60  MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF MILLPORT…AND MOVING  SOUTH AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… MILLPORT…REFORM…GORDO…CARROLLTON…PICKENSVILLE…KENNEDY…ETHELSVILLE AND MELBORNE.

WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOME DAMAGE…ESPECIALLY TO SMALLER STRUCTURES.

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Forecast Update… Thursday at 4:45 PM

I’ve bumped up the rain chances over the next 5 days, since we’re in a favorable position for thunderstorms. Many of us have picked up some nice amounts of rain today. If you haven’t seen rain so far today, look for a good chance of rain at your house over the next 5 days. It won’t rain all day, but thunderstorms are possible at about any time. Usually this time of the year, thunderstorms only happen during the afternoon hours. Since we’re right on the edge of a strong ridge of high pressure and we have a good supply of tropical moisture around here, thunderstorms will be a good bet. Just like today, some storms could grow strong to severe. The chance of severe weather is low, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a severe thunderstorm or two pops up.

Highs will top up in the middle 90s, but rain will cool you off once storms move into your area. If you don’t see rain, conditions will remain hot and humid.

Tropical Storm Emily has died out this afternoon. It’s in a tough environment and has lost its low level circulation center. In-fact, the thunderstorms around the old center has dissipated.

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Severe T-storm Warning for Lamar, Fayette, Marion County Until 5pm Thursday

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…  NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…  LAMAR COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA… SOUTHERN MARION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 500 PM CDT

* AT 355 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL…AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 7  MILES NORTH OF DETROIT…OR 10 MILES WEST OF HAMILTON…AND MOVING  SOUTH AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…  SULLIGENT…WINFIELD…VERNON…DETROIT…LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE…
  BRILLIANT…GUIN AND BEAVERTON.

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Severe T-storm Watch Until 11pm Thursday… Updated 3:55 PM

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
  
          EXTREME WESTERN ALABAMA NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
  
   EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 345 PM UNTIL 1100 PM CDT.
  
   HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 75 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
  
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 50  STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES EAST  NORTHEAST OF COLUMBUS MISSISSIPPI TO 25 MILES SOUTH OF GREENWOOD  MISSISSIPPI.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE  ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU7).
  
   REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE  FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH  AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS  AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY  DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
  
   DISCUSSION…TSTMS HAVE INCREASED ALONG THE COLLISION OF OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES OVER NWRN AL AND NERN MS LATE THIS AFTN.  STORMS ARE DEVELOPING IN A VERY UNSTABLE AIR MASS WHERE SFC TEMPERATURES ARE IN  EXCESS OF 95-100F IN THE MIDST OF MID-UPR 70S BOUNDARY LAYER DEW  POINTS.  DEEP NLY FLOW THROUGH THE COLUMN AND STRENGTHENING COLD   POOL WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CORRIDORS OF DMGG WIND GUSTS AND MRGLLY SVR  HAIL.  STORMS WILL PROPAGATE SWD AND SWWD INTO THE HOT BOUNDARY  LAYER ALONG TRAILING COLD POOL INTO CNTRL MS THROUGH EARLY EVENING.
  
   AVIATION…A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT  TO 1 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 65 KNOTS.  A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION  VECTOR 35030.
  

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

More Storms… Forecasting Thoughts… Thursday 3:35pm Update

Many of us from Tuscaloosa and points north have picked up a nice rain today, as several round of storms have moved in from the north and northwest. Showers and storms are mainly north of Tuscaloosa at this point. In-fact, some severe storms are developing over northwest Alabama and northeast Mississippi. These storms are moving south at 30 MPH. There could be a severe thunderstorm or two over the next few hours over northwest AL, but I don’t expect anything to get out of hand. All storms are producing lots of lightning, so go indoors if a storm moves in your area. Look for the batch of storms in the Hamilton area right now to move south towards Vernon, Gordo, Reform, Tuscaloosa, Eutaw and Livingston later this evening.

Since we’re on the edge of a ridge, and a deep layer of tropical moisture is in place, active thunderstorms are likely at times through the weekend and into early next week. It won’t rain all day, but storms are possible at times. Temperatures will top out in the lower to middle 90s each day.

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Numerous Storms Today… Thursday Update 8:20 AM

We’re watching some big storms this morning move in from the north. Many of us woke up to some rain and thunder, but more storms are developing over Fayette and Walker County. These storms are moving south at 30 mph, so places like Fayette, Jasper, Oakman, Samantha, Tuscaloosa, Northport and Vance will likely get a healthy thunderstorm later this morning. If it makes it as far south as Tuscaloosa, it should be closer to 10am before reaching you.

We are on the outer edge of a ridge of high pressure, which means we’re in a good spot to get these convective systems. Look for the chance of storms like this to continue on and off through the weekend. They will not last all day, but once they move in, look for a period of heavy rain, lots of lightning and gusty winds. This will also help us out in the temperature department. More clouds and some storms at times will help to cool us down a bit. It’s not guaranteed that you see rain each day, but there is atleast a healthy chance of storms each day through the weekend.

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com