These storms are getting messier and forming clusters instead of discrete supercells, which could really help us out in this morning round, prevent really serious problems. The yellow polygons are the severe thunderstorm warnings. The tan polygons are for strong thunderstorms that are under severe limits.
But these storms prompting the warnings are capable of half-dollar-sized hail and wind gusts up to about 60 miles per hour. That's dangerous enough, so you don't have to necessarily take tornado-level precautions, but you might consider getting to a safer, lower spot in your home, away from any windows. And of course stay away from electrical stuff. Those of you who are awake at this time. Or if the thunder wakes you up. Cell phones don't alert for severe thunderstorm warnings unless they carry a "particularly dangerous situation" tag. And these don't. This is your typical threat for damaging wind or large hail that you get from a severe thunderstorm.
So for now, the storms are not as bad as they could have been for round one here in the overnight/early morning. Some could strengthen, so we're keeping an eye on it. We are under a Tornado Watch until 10 AM.
The "round two" this Saturday afternoon, evening, and perhaps into the late night hours has the potential to be a full-blown tornado outbreak. So this weather still needs to be taken very seriously today.
3:31 AM - And that half-dollar sized hail has been confirmed in Franklin County.
3:48 - Now we have a Special Weather Statement for some storms coming from Fayette County into Walker and Winston Counties. These are under severe limits but are capable of wind gusts up to 40 mph and hail up to the size of pennies. And they are producing a lot of lightning, a good bit of rain. But they are not severe. There is a similar statement still in effect for Haleyville, small part of Winston County.
And then further South of us, there is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning affecting Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties for the threat of very large hail mainly, up to the size of ping pong balls. Could also have wind gusts to 60 mph.
And we still have this warning for Russellville and much of Franklin and far Northern Marion Counties up here, where half-dollar sized hail has been observed and winds could gust to 60 mph here too.
3:52 - And now we're going to shift focus onto this supercell thunderstorm in North Alabama, because the Severe T-Storm Warning has been extended all the way up to Athens and Belkmont. It clips Moulton and includes most of Lawrence County. This new warning goes until 4:45 AM.
There are no signs that this storm is trying to produce a tornado right now, even though it did earlier in Mississippi. Nonetheless, damaging wind gusts and large hail can be dangerous on their own. So if you want to play it safe, I'd move to a safer place in your home, like don't be up on a top floor near some windows, especially if you've got trees around.
3:56 - There's a really good look at the polygon.
4:02 AM - And now there is a new Severe Thunderstorm Warning extended out of Tuscaloosa County into Southwestern Walker County, stops just short of Jasper but does include Oakman. Damaging wind gusts are possible here, but the main threat is large hail, could be up to the size of ping pong balls, 1.5 inches in diameter.
4:12 - Just a thought as I'm looking at how this event is unfolding. That event I mentioned a few days ago in April 2010 has shown up as one of the analog events over the past day or two. Things got very messy that day, and it surprised us a lot. There was a bad tornado in Mississippi, think it was rated E/F-4, and then as the storms moved through Alabama, everybody thought it was a bust for us, just not much else was happening. But then as it got into Northeast Alabama, the atmosphere was still in place, and something triggered it. We had about 3-4 tornadoes all in a row, all of a sudden in some of those counties. I remember Albertville getting hit pretty hard that evening, or I think it was after dark.
And this event may be a lot like that. There may be some lulls in the action where things are just kind of messy (like right now) or quiet, but we need to keep in mind that the atmosphere today is likely to be very favorable for tornadoes and damaging thunderstorms. And any lulls in the action could quickly come to an end. Things can get real in a hurry with setups like this.
This morning round looks like it will mainly pose a large hail and damaging straight-line wind threat. The chance of a tornado is looking low, which is a pleasant surprise. But this afternoon/evening's round is still likely to be significant, where tornadoes are the main concern.
4:17 - Here is the broad view, and you can see the old warning for Marion and Franklin Counties has been allowed to expire. There is also a newer warning for McNairy and Hardin Counties in Southern TN including the town of Savannah. And they are expected hail to the size of ping-pong balls there, wind gusts up to 60 mph.
And people in Jasper need to be getting ready for similar weather.
And actually they just got a severe thunderstorm warning that I'm going to make a new post for.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
ALC059-150915-
/O.NEW.KHUN.SV.W.0015.250315T0819Z-250315T0915Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
319 AM CDT Sat Mar 15 2025
The National Weather Service in Huntsville Alabama has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Franklin County in northwestern Alabama...
* Until 415 AM CDT.
* At 319 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles southeast
of Red Bay, moving northeast at 35 mph. At 315 AM, quarter size
hail was reported in Hodges Alabama.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Locations impacted include...
Red Bay, Cedar Creek Reservoir, Atwood, Tharptown, Duketon,
Russellville, Rockwood, Vina, Halltown, and Hodges.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Large hail, damaging wind, and continuous cloud to ground lightning
are occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is
one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder,
you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for north central
and northwestern Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3451 8815 3458 8796 3457 8753 3430 8753
3432 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 0819Z 238DEG 32KT 3432 8807
HAIL THREAT...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
30
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
ALC093-150900-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0042.250315T0817Z-250315T0900Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
317 AM CDT Sat Mar 15 2025
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Marion County in northwestern Alabama...
* Until 400 AM CDT.
* At 316 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Tremont, or
near Fulton, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect
wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Locations impacted include...
Tessner, Shottsville, Pearces Mill, Rankin Fite Airport, Brinn,
Hackleburg, Upper Bear Creek Reservoir, Weston, Lake Buttahatchee,
Bear Creek, Hamilton, Bexar, Pigeye, and Piney Grove.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for northwestern
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3431 8764 3406 8764 3409 8820 3432 8818
TIME...MOT...LOC 0816Z 245DEG 47KT 3423 8830
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
32/JDavis
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
MSC087-150830-
/O.NEW.KJAN.SV.W.0082.250315T0738Z-250315T0830Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Jackson MS
238 AM CDT Sat Mar 15 2025
The National Weather Service in Jackson has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Eastern Lowndes County in northeastern Mississippi...
* Until 330 AM CDT.
* At 237 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Bent Oak, or
near Columbus, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.
* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
Columbus AFB, Steens, and Columbus around 245 AM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Forest.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 500 AM CDT for northeastern
Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3338 8829 3335 8833 3333 8849 3337 8858
3368 8837 3362 8826
TIME...MOT...LOC 0737Z 221DEG 47KT 3343 8845
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
SAS
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