Tornado, flood warning issued in Alabama as severe weather intensifies

A tornado watch was issued for several counties in central Alabama on Thursday in view of intensifying storms in the region.

The tornado watch was issued for the Bibb, Greene, Hale, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Shelby and Chilton counties in the state, and residents have been advised to be wary till at least 6pm local time on Thursday.

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Further, a tornado warning has also been issued for Eutaw, Forkland and Boligee, which is effective until 2.15pm CST. Forecasters said that the tornado had been confirmed as of 1.10pm after a tornado debris signature was detected on radar.

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As of 1.18pm local time, the tornado was near the University of West Alabama, near Livingston, and was moving northeast at a speed of 72 kilometres per hour.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), affected areas can expect “a few tornados,” “isolated hail up to quarter size,” and wind gusts up to 112 kilometres per hour.

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As per the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), most of central and south Alabama are at Level 2 risk out of a possible five levels.

Given the intensifying storm in the state, one to three inches of rain is expected in several parts, and a flood watch has also been issued for several counties, namely, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Jefferson, Randolph, Shelby, St Clair, Sumter, Talladega, and Tuscaloosa.