Tornado Headed For Rainbow City/Gadsden

Wow . . . calling for all help available due to devastation back in Trussville, and also reports of major structural damage in St. Clair County. I think Gadsden is close enough to be considered a part of North Alabama, and this is a tornado emergency. Take your tornado precautions to the max for this one.

The Weather Channel posted on Twitter, I just saw as of 4:51:

@TWCBreaking: Maplesville, Active, Lawley, Thorsby, and Clanton, AL (including I-65) move to #tornado shelter NOW! http://wxch.nl/wQeXXz

4:54 - Some of these damage reports are quite disturbing. Take this very, very seriously. I should note, however, that no other severe weather is in progress in North Alabama other than flash flooding, and I think the threat is over for most of us. Might have to watch Cullman/Marshall/Dekalb and maybe Jackson counties a little bit longer. Threat of anything severe, aside from this one (apparently quite strong and long-track) tornado, is quite low by now.

4:58 - This tornado is showing no sign of weakening, seems to be getting stronger if anything. Also, just about all of the Tennessee Valley is under a flash flood warning. Wow. What a night . . . 

5:01 - The more damage reports I'm hearing, the more I'm thinking this is probably a strong, perhaps even violent category tornado. If in the path, if you can get to an underground shelter, I'd go for it. If not, get to a small room/hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy home/building, as near the center as possible - and use something (helmet, blanket, pillow) to protect your head.

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
435 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

ALC015-055-115-231115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
CALHOUN AL-ETOWAH AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
435 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR...
SOUTHEASTERN ETOWAH AND NORTHERN CALHOUN COUNTIES UNTIL 515 AM CST...

AT 431 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ASHVILLE...OR 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF
ODENVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MARKTON...RAINBOW CITY...GADSDEN...JACKSONVILLE...HOKES BLUFF...
RAGLAND...STEELE...OHATCHEE...GADSDEN MALL AND GLENCOE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 166 THROUGH 182...

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758.