Tornado Moving Through Jefferson County

This warning has actually just been extended into Blount and St. Clair counties. This is probably a fairly strong, long-track tornado. Will post newer graphics in just a bit. I wouldn't cover this except that it looks very serious, and let's face it, nobody around there needs this!

All right - more updated graphics here. While looking at that, be aware there is another tornado near the Greene County Steam Plant. I'd still recommend watching James Spann and his team's live stream. They are all over this stuff and doing a great job. I'll post updates for Birmingham, because this is a pretty bad situation for them, and they're not too far out of our area . . . but the stuff you'll get from this live stream will be up to the second . . . and the quality of the coverage is second to none. And this tornado coming close to Birmingham . . . assuming it's still on the ground (a good possibility, hard to tell at night!) . . . could be quite strong.

Take your tornado precautions to the max if in the path of this.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, flash flooding has become quite a problem even down into Morgan and Cullman counties.

This possible tornado - as of 3:44 - is headed toward Forestdale, Fultondale, will probably pass north of downtown. But still, in downtown, I'd stay sheltered just in case until this passes by - CAN'T HURT ANYTHING, MIGHT HELP! It's past Oak Grove now. This is the most significant storm I've seen all night - if you know anyone down this way, please call them and make sure they are aware and can take shelter from this.

3:47 - Getting some damage reports from Oak Grove. If this does not turn out to be a tornado when the surveys start tomorrow, I will be very surprised. 

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
332 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
WESTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 430 AM CST

* AT 326 AM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PUBLIC HAVE REPORTED
DAMAGE FROM A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
OAK GROVE...OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF HUEYTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BIRMINGHAM...FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE...IRONDALE...
PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...LEEDS...TRUSSVILLE...MOODY...SPRINGVILLE
AND ODENVILLE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 260 THROUGH 275...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 27 THROUGH 33...
US 78 EXIT NUMBER 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 120 THROUGH 156...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 130 THROUGH 156...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.