So the HRRR model got it right about a line forming ahead of the main squall line with this. There have been trees down from gradient winds already today, and there are about 15,000 customers in Alabama without power already.
The main squall line is back in Mississippi, but the secondary line that formed ahead of it is moving through the Shoals right now. Despite limited instability, we've got some lightning with this, so some thunderstorms, not just showers.
None are at severe limits right now, but they are close enough that there could be tree and power line damage with these storms anyway. I did see one report of a downed tree or two in NW AL a while ago.
3:56 PM - Actually it was power lines down on Wright Drive in Florence.
Some places had brushfires earlier today from power lines coming down.
We are receiving an increase in reports of trees and powerlines down across the region. Be extremely cautious when traveling this afternoon and evening. https://t.co/y8Ko4Bza1i
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) March 4, 2025
3:57 - They speak true.
At 3:45 PM CST, 1 S Cuba [Sumter Co, AL] Fire Dept/Rescue reports Wildfire. 3 wildfires have been reported with no containment, all due to arcing power lines due to interaction with trees. One is near CR 9 near the Sumter/Choctaw County line, a... #alwx https://t.co/91MKYBeJ07 pic.twitter.com/mYdGW3XlIi
— IEMBot BMX (@iembot_bmx) March 4, 2025
4:02 PM - Here's a good example of today's problems down in Southwest Alabama. We've been dry, and these kinds of winds before we get rain can cause some issues like this. As one of my dad's old friends would put it, it can cause a SERYUS FARR!
All joking aside, you get a fire like that, it's serious. And I'm glad those southern accents have survived the era where most everybody tries to talk the same . . .
4:05 - It's looking like the new Tornado Watch may be issued for areas generally South of Birmingham. Which makes sense with no unstable air, or almost none, to work with in North Alabama.
4:08 - That Tornado Watch back in MS lasts until 7 PM. There are a few severe thunderstorm warnings and Tornado Warnings along the squall line back down that way.
Current power outages@WBRCweather @WBRCNews pic.twitter.com/C3fwDo5Khl
— Wes Wyatt (@weswyattweather) March 4, 2025
4:11 - And FOX-6/Wes Wyatt have mapped out some of the power outages.
4:23 - The storms continue into Winston County and will soon be into Cullman and Walker Counties. They're rolling along. Might notice an increase in winds with these, probably mainly up to 40-45 mph. If winds go higher than that like over 50 mph then a Special Weather Statement would probably be issued. And if it gets up to like 60 mph then we've have a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. But the lack of unstable air up here appears to be helping us out as far as keeping this just a line with rain, thunder/lightning, and high winds . . . but not severe at this point.
4:25 - I misspoke. The rain/storms have already moved into Walker County, should have said Cullman and Morgan Counties . . .
[4:48 PM] A band of moderate-heavy rain and embedded t-storms will continue to shift eastward this evening, reaching northeast AL by 6:30 PM. Strong wind gusts of 40-50 MPH (occasionally up to 55 MPH) will occur, along with cloud-to-ground lightning and locally heavy rain. #HUNwx pic.twitter.com/MlXucAD5bI
— NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) March 4, 2025
4:54 - I guess they're not doing special weather statements today, but NWS Huntsville advises that wind gusts between about 40-55 mph are possible as this line of showers/storms moves through. Which is just under severe limits, if winds get up to 55 mph.
5:14 PM - And now we've got fires in Vernon and Malloy in Lamar County where once again, some power lines got knocked down in the winds.
And here's a radar update. We do have rain, thunder/lightning, and a lot of really gusty winds. Trees and power lines can come down in these winds even if no warnings are required.
5:29 - Got some trees down at Mountain Home Road at Trinity, Morgan County.
5:30 - And a tree across a roadway just North of Decatur . . .
5:36 - Tree down on a residence near Moulton, did not see a report of injury with that.
5:43 - And as expected, the new Tornado Watch is way to our South.
Up here it's basically a bunch of rain and high winds that have been bringing down trees and power lines here and there. I think about 15,000-20,000 customers are without power at this point. And there have been some brushfires and wildfires from the winds blowing down lines today. So it's not like we haven't had problems, it just isn't typical severe weather like focused severe winds in specific thunderstorms or a problem with tornadoes.
5:55 - The main squall line is still back in Mississippi, and from now through about 10 PM or I guess about Midnight for far Northeast Alabama, we could see some effects as that moves through. A few storms in that line could become severe, but the risk is very low.
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