Tornado Update (Gadsden/Rainbow City)

The reports suggest this may even be a violent category tornado. Very sad for folks in Central Alabama. Lots of people are trapped. Take the utmost precautions in the path of this. This warning actually expires in about five minutes as I write this. Probably another tornado warning will be required soon. Storm has weakened some, but STILL . . . stay sheltered. It's not daylight . . . there's no way to know - this could still be on the ground tearing stuff up.

5:13 - Another possibly strong tornado in Chilton/Coosa counties. Again, refer to www.alabamawx.com or www.abc3340.com for info on this and a live stream. That's too far away for me to do coverage for, but this one near Gadsden . . . definitely too close for comfort, and the damage it has done further back in Central Alabama sounds . . . awful.

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
456 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-
456 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 451 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGE. THIS
THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR OHATCHEE...OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
MARKTON...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MARKTON...RAINBOW CITY...GADSDEN...HOKES BLUFF...JACKSONVILLE...
GADSDEN MALL...GLENCOE...ANDERSON...GADSDEN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND
SOUTHSIDE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 174 THROUGH 182...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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