Update – 6:45 a.m.

Two bands of moderate to heavy rain are lined up NNE/SSW and parallel to one another across the state this morning.

One extends from Morgan and Marshall Counties through the Birmingham area into Bibb and Perry Counties before extending southward.

The back edge of the other band extends from east of Anniston to Prattville to Greenville.

No severe weather has been reported across Central or North Alabama so far.

Gradient winds behind the heavy rain areas have blown down trees across parts of Lamar County, as well as up in Marion County before 5 a.m.

Injuries were reported when a car ran into a tree that had blown down in Lamar County just north of Vernon.

No warnings are in effect across Central or North Alabama. A tornado warning does continue in Southeast Alabama down in the Enterprise vicinity.

The cold front is approaching the Mississippi River. Ahead of it, showers and storms are developing along the “dryline” from Batesville to Kosciusko to west of Laurel. This line of showers and storms will enter West Alabama around 9:30 a.m. and spread across the state.

There is still an opportunity for these storms to become severe.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for most of Central Alabama until noon. South of that, the rest of South Alabama is under a tornado watch until noon.

So the two bands will be the main rain producers as they move east through mid-morning, followed by a short round, but active period of showers and storms sweeping across the area later this morning.

There could be additional thunderstorm development across the western part of the state during the early afternoon until the main cold front comes in later, effectively shutting down the active weather and setting the stage for cooler temperatures overnight.

This activity will sweep eastward this afternoon.

Damaging winds will be a distinct possibility with the afternoon activity, as well as the chance of an isolated tornado.

So, there is still a threat for severe weather until the cold front moves through late this afternoon.

Stay close to a reliable source of weather information until that happens.

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