Alabama Update at 430 a.m.: Flood Threat Increasing, Watching Eastern Mississippi Tornadic Storms

As of early this morning, most warnings in Alabama are now flash flood warnings, with widespread flooding across the northern third of the state. A new flash flood warning was just issued for Pickens County in West Alabama.

Active flooding is being reported in Columbus MS.

One tornado warning remains in effect for southeastern Macon County, but that storm has weakened. The most concerning tornadic activity is just across the Mississippi line, where a confirmed tornado warning is ongoing for parts of Smith, Jasper, Scott, and Newton counties. A large MCS has developed south of I-20 near Meridian, producing a severe thunderstorm warning and a 62 mph gust at the Naval Air Station there. Another severe thunderstorm warning was just issued for Jones County near Laurel and it has been augmented by a new tornado warning as well. This storm will head toward Choctaw and perhaps Sumter counties in West Central Alabama.

Storms over northeastern Alabama have weakened significantly, but strong cells continue from Blount through Cullman into Walker, Fayette, southern Lamar, and Pickens counties, extending back into Mississippi. Flash flooding remains a serious concern with repeated rounds of heavy rain training over the same areas.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, storms along the slow-moving outflow boundary will continue to spread into central Alabama from southeastern Mississippi over the next few hours. Circulations embedded within the line, and possibly some discrete cells ahead of it, will continue to pose a threat of brief tornadoes and damaging winds through 6 to 7 am. This activity is feeding off a narrow corridor of moisture and instability, with enough wind shear to maintain some tornado potential.

A tornado watch remains in effect for much of central Alabama until 10 am, and a flash flood watch remains in effect for all of central Alabama through Monday evening. Conditions will remain unsettled through the morning, so continue to monitor for new warnings.

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