Severe Weather Statement(s)

This squall line is nearly over into Georgia now, but let's remember our folks in Northeast Alabama who mainly live in rural communities. Everybody along and ahead of this line needs to stay sheltered. 

Maybe the tornado warnings make it a little more urgent, but in the severe thunderstorm warnings, please stay sheltered until the warning is cancelled or you are SURE the squall line is past you. Wouldn't fool around with it tonight, because there has been scattered damage and verified severe wind reports with this time since it was in Mississippi, through Alabama too. Folks in Georgia, I don't blog for you, but just know that this line has a history. 

1:51 AM - As this line crosses over into Georgia, I do note that Chickamauga and LaFayette are under a Tornado Warning now. Basically an extension of the Dekalb County, AL warning. But issued by the NWS Atlanta, or technically Peachtree City. Of course people need to shelter and not wait to try to see or hear this coming. This is an area where tornadoes could spin up quickly, more than one area of rotation possible. One of my favorite short stories, a civil war story, was set in that area. Anyway, I have a reader or at least social media friend from there, so making mention of them as things are winding down on the Alabama side. 

1:55 - The Dekalb County warning is being allowed to expire on time. That storm is now over in Georgia. 

For what it's worth, my attempts to get the cats into a relatively safe place with me as the squall line blew through my location were not entirely successful but would have amused a fly on the wall who knew what was going on. And there was no damage here. 

1:59 - Emergency management reports many trees down throughout Blount County as well. 

2 AM - And goodness gracious, we have 68 reports of wind damage from tonight's storms! Many of those happened in North Alabama. 

2:02 - And we can give the all-clear now for the Tennessee Valley. No more severe weather tonight for North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee. That stuff over toward Chattanooga, I consider that part of Eastern TN and don't cover those folks even when I'm on a roll like tonight. So hope all my readers stayed safe through this, sounds like no injuries, but we'll see what tomorrow and Monday turn up. Thanks in advance to the National Weather Service personnel who will be out doing storm surveys on a holiday weekend, and of course thank you for your service in issuing warnings and other updates tonight. Seems like nobody got hurt, which I consider a big win for the warning process. Always glad to see that. 

And as contentious as politics are these days, I'm still going to say that whatever budget cuts happen in the government, these people in the NWS are essential. Without them, we'd be thrown back to the 1970's or earlier when most reports of tornadoes or other bad storms travelled by word of mouth, and people had to huddle in each other's storm pits for hours and watch the sky. A lot of people don't know what we've got, some really good stuff in place for the past 20-30 years or more, and I sure hope we don't end up losing it. 

I think it's mainly Elon Musk in charge of the budget cuts lately, so if by chance you read this, sir, please consider things carefully before you cut into these people's budget. If anything, they deserve more funding and support than they currently have. 

Will post a quick forecast summary soon. 

 Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

135 AM CST Sun Feb 16 2025

ALC049-160815-

/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-250216T0815Z/

DeKalb AL-

135 AM CST Sun Feb 16 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM CST FOR

SOUTHEASTERN DEKALB COUNTY...

At 135 AM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado

was located near Fort Payne, moving northeast at 75 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without

         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage

         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is

         likely.

Locations impacted include...

Fort Payne, Rainsville, Valley Head, Hammondville, Mentone, Pine

Ridge, Dog Town, Collbran, Guest, and Little River Canyon NP.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not

wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3448 8558 3444 8558 3437 8563 3436 8566

      3426 8577 3426 8581 3424 8581 3424 8584

      3420 8585 3420 8589 3447 8587 3459 8553

      3453 8551

TIME...MOT...LOC 0735Z 241DEG 66KT 3440 8578

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED

MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

70/DD

Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

132 AM CST Sun Feb 16 2025

ALC049-071-160800-

/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-250216T0800Z/

Jackson AL-DeKalb AL-

132 AM CST Sun Feb 16 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM CST FOR

SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON AND NORTHEASTERN DEKALB COUNTIES...

At 131 AM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado

was located over Sylvania, or near Rainsville, moving east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without

         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage

         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is

         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...

  Henagar and Sylvania around 135 AM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include

Sulpher Springs, Hammondville, Rosalie, Valley Head, and Mentone.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not

wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3447 8587 3461 8590 3484 8559 3478 8557

      3459 8553

TIME...MOT...LOC 0731Z 253DEG 50KT 3457 8582

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED

MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

70/DD

Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service Nashville TN

136 AM CST Sun Feb 16 2025

TNC175-160745-

/O.CON.KOHX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-250216T0745Z/

Van Buren TN-

136 AM CST Sun Feb 16 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CST FOR

NORTHWESTERN VAN BUREN COUNTY...

At 136 AM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado

was located near Spencer, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without

         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage

         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is

         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...

  Spencer around 140 AM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Fall

Creek Falls State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest

floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a

mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter

and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3565 8536 3561 8558 3572 8560 3581 8548

TIME...MOT...LOC 0736Z 245DEG 41KT 3576 8552

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED

MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Barnwell