Strong storms will continue to be possible overnight across parts of Alabama, according to forecasters.
However, the overall threat for severe weather has trended downward as of early Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Storms continued to move across parts of the state early Saturday, but most were below severe limits.
That wasn’t the case earlier this morning and on Friday night. The weather service issued multiple tornado warnings earlier as storms rolled across north and parts of north-central Alabama.
The weather service has gotten multiple reports of downed trees and power lines, and several tornado debris signatures were detected on radar earlier this morning and on Friday night.
A few strong to severe storms remain possible for the rest of the morning, and a tornado watch continued for several counties until 3 a.m. The weather service said it did not anticipate issuing new watches for the rest of the night.
This isn’t the last Alabama has seen of possible storms. More severe weather will be possible, mainly for the southern half of the state, on Sunday.
Here’s a look at the activity from earlier this morning and Friday night.
* 1:48 a.m.: Alabama is free from tornado warnings for the first time in a while. Tornado-warned storms in northeast Alabama have now moved into Georgia.
* 1:45 a.m.: The National Weather Service in Huntsville has gotten a report of a tree down on a house in Scottsboro in Jackson County.
* 1:45 a.m.: Storm trends are looking more promising for central Alabama. The National Weather Service in Birmingham is not anticipating issuing a new watch:
* 1:42 a.m.: The tornado watch has been dropped for Lamar and Winston counties. The watch is still in effect for Cullman, DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall, Fayette and Walker counties until 3 a.m.
* 1:35 a.m.: From the National Weather Service in Huntsville:
* 1:29 a.m.: A tornado warning will be in effect for east-central Jackson and northeastern DeKalb counties in northeast Alabama until 2 a.m. This is a CONFIRMED tornado, according to the National Weather Service.
As of 1:29 a.m. the storm was located near Ider and was moving east at 55 mph.
* 1:28 a.m.: Some good news: The tornado watch has been dropped for Madison and Morgan counties in north Alabama.
* 1:26 a.m.: The National Weather Service has gotten a report from 1:06 a.m. of a tornado on the ground in Marshall County in Hebron.
* 1:20 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for east-central Jackson and northeastern DeKalb counties in northeast Alabama until 1:45 a.m. This is a CONFIRMED tornado, according to the National Weather Service:
As of 1:20 a.m. the storm was located near Scottsboro and was moving east at 50 mph.
* 1:20 a.m.: A look at some of the damage near Hartselle in Morgan County from an earlier tornado-warned storm:
* 1:12 a.m.: Marshall County, heads up. Reports of a tornado on the ground near Grant:
* 1:08 a.m.: A tornado warning will be in effect for northeastern Marshall, southern Jackson and central DeKalb counties until 1:45 a.m. This includes the Fort Payne area.
As of 1:08 a.m. the storm was located over Grant, or 11 miles north of Guntersville, and was moving east at 60 mph.
* 1:06 a.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning will be in effect for northern Marshall, southwestern Jackson, southeastern Madison and central DeKalb counties in north Alabama until 1:30 a.m.
As of 1:06 a.m. storms were along a line from near Grant to 6 miles west of Guntersville and were moving east at 60 mph.
* 1:01 a.m.: The National Weather Service in Huntsville is getting more damage reports out of the Hartselle area in Morgan County. There have been several reports of structural damage, according to emergency managers, with possible injuries. That area was under a tornado warning earlier.
* 12:55 a.m.: The tornado watch has been dropped for Marion County, and the National Weather Service in Birmingham said the overall tornado threat for central Alabama was decreasing.
* 12:52 a.m.: The National Weather Service in Huntsville has gotten a report from earlier this morning of a tractor-trailer overturned near Hartselle on Northwest Vest Road in Morgan County with possible entrapment.
* 12:51 a.m.: Power outages so far have been confined to northwest Alabama. Poweroutage.us is reporting 33,000 in the dark, most of those in Lauderdale, Franklin, Marion and Winston counties.
* 12:48 a.m.: The tornado watch has been dropped for Lawrence and Limestone counties in north Alabama.
* 12:46 a.m.: A tornado warning will be in effect for west-central Jackson, southern Madison and southeastern Morgan counties until 1:15 a.m.
As of 12:44 a.m. storms were located near Somerville and were moving east at 40 mph.
* 12:41 a.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning will be in effect for Jackson and central Madison counties until 1:30 a.m.
As of 12:40 a.m. storms were located along a line from near Winchester, Tenn., to New Market to Huntsville and were moving east at 40 mph.
* 12:41 a.m.: A look at reports from the National Weather Service in Birmingham:
* 12:40 a.m.: The National Weather Service in Huntsville is getting wind damage reports form the Hartselle area of Morgan County.
* 12:25 a.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning continues for west-central Marshall, Cullman and southern Morgan counties until 1:15 a.m.
As of 12:27 a.m. the storm was located near Addison and was moving east at 40 mph.
* 12:21 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for northwestern Marshall, southwestern Madison, southeastern Limestone, central Morgan and east-central Lawrence counties until 12:45 a.m. This includes part of the Huntsville metro area:
As of 12:21 a.m. the storm was located near Hartselle and was moving east at 65 mph.
* 12:20 a.m.: Reports of power outages continue to climb in Alabama early Saturday. According to Poweroutage.us there are nearly 29,000 without power in the state. Most of those reports are coming from Lauderdale, Franklin and Marion counties.
* 12:18 a.m.: The tornado watch has been dropped for Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties in northwest Alabama. The watch continues for the rest of north Alabama until 3 a.m.
* 12:15 a.m.: Strong storms continued to roll across parts of north and north-central Alabama early Saturday, but as of 12:15 a.m. there were no active tornado warnings in the state. A tornado watch continues until 3 a.m. for all of north Alabama and part of west-central Alabama. There have been several reports of damage from storms earlier on Friday, and strong to severe storms will remain possible overnight.
* 12:13 a.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for west-central Marshall, southwestern Madison, southern Limestone, Morgan and eastern Lawrence counties until 12:45 a.m.
As of 12:13 a.m. the storm was located near Moulton and was moving east at 60 mph.
* 12:09 a.m.: A flash flood warning has been issued for Marion, Winston, northwestern Fayette and northern Lamar counties until 3:15 a.m.
As of 12:09 a.m. the National Weather Service said between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen, and an additional 1 to 2 inches will be possible.
* 12:06 a.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for northwestern Jackson, Madison and eastern Limestone counties until 12:45 a.m. This includes the Huntsville area.
As of 12:05 a.m. storms were located along a line from near Lynchburg, Tenn., to near Fayetteville to near Harvest to near Tanner and were moving east at 45 mph.
* 11:58 p.m.: The National Weather Service has gotten a report of multiple trees and powerlines down and roof damage in Hamilton in Marion County, where a tornado-warned storm moved through earlier tonight.
* 11:50 p.m.: Here’s a look at damage reported in Alabama so far.
* 11:46 p.m.: The tornado warning for Marion County has been allowed to expire. So has the tornado warning for Franklin County. So there are no tornado warnings for Alabama at the moment. Tornado watch continues until 3 a.m.
* 11:43 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning for Winston County until 12:30 a.m.
As of 11:43 p.m. storms were located along a line from near Needmore to Lake Buttahatchee to near Brilliant and were moving east at 60 mph.
* 11:43 p.m.: Alabama power outages up to nearly 19,000, according to Poweroutage.us, with the majority of those in Lauderdale County in north Alabama.
* 11:40 p.m.: The Storm Prediction Center issued an update on the ongoing tornado watch for parts of north and west Alabama. Forecasters said the risk for a few tornadoes continues, “but probably will gradually lessen with storms overspreading the region through 2-3 a.m. CDT.”
Here’s the watch, which was issued earlier tonight and will be in effect until 3 a.m.:
* 11:34 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning continues for the Huntsville area until 12:15 a.m.:
* 11:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service got a report that a trained spotter intercepted a tornado at 11:11 p.m. in Lauderdale County near Highway 72 near Center Star Cemetery.
* 11:29 p.m.: Nearly 14,000 without power in Alabama so far as storms move across northern and western areas, according to Poweroutage.us. Most of those outages were in Lauderdale County, but Lawrence and Pickens counties have outages too.
* 11:25 p.m.: Tornado warning for eastern Franklin County until 12:15 a.m. This is the same storm affecting Marion County and that earlier caused destruction in Mississippi. As of now this is a radar-indicated tornado.
As of 11:24 p.m. the storm was located near Weston or Hamilton and was moving northeast at 55 mph.
* 11:22 p.m.: The National Weather Service has gotten a report of trees on a car with someone trapped inside in the Seven Points area of Florence.
* 11:18 p.m.: The National Weather Service in Huntsville has gotten a report of many trees down -- many on houses -- in the Sheffield and Tuscumbia areas. Widespread power outages have also been reported.
* 11:17 p.m.: Heads up in Hamilton. The National Weather Service said wind gusts of 80-90 mph were headed your way. Take cover now, the weather service said.
* 11:15 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning will be in effect for Marion County until midnight.
As of 11:15 p.m. storms were located along a line from 6 miles southeast of Tremont to Detroit and were moving east at 60 mph.
* 11:12 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning will be in effect until 12:15 a.m. for northwestern Madison, Limestone, eastern Lauderdale, southeastern Colbert, northwestern Morgan and northern Lawrence counties in north Alabama.
As of 11:11 p.m. severe storms were located along a line from 6 miles east of Lexington to Rogersville to near Leighton and were moving east at 70 mph.
* 11:11 p.m.: A tornado warning continues for Marion County until 11:45 p.m. The storm was poised to move over into Marion County from Mississippi in the next few minutes. Here’s another look at the warning:
* 11:08 p.m.: Windy out there. A 66 mph wind gust was just reported in Muscle Shoals, per the National Weather Service.
* 11:04 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning for northern Lamar County until 11:45 p.m.
As of 11:04 p.m. storms were located along a line from near Smithville to near Armory to Aberdeen and were moving 60 mph.
This storm could have wind gusts up to 70 mph.
* 11 p.m. update: Severe storms continue to move into northwestern Alabama as of 11 p.m. Friday. There are several ongoing tornado warnings, including a confirmed tornado that was poised to move into Marion County in Alabama soon (see the warning below) and another potential tornado farther north in north Alabama. More storms were also poised to move into Alabama from Mississippi. A tornado watch continues for north Alabama and the northwest part of central Alabama until 3 a.m. Saturday.
* 10:58 p.m.: Tornado warning for northern Limestone, eastern Lauderdale, east-central Colbert and north-central Lawrence counties in northwest Alabama until 11:45 p.m.
As of 10:58 p.m. the storm was located near St. Florian, or near Florence, and was moving east at 60 mph.
* 10:52 p.m.: Tornado warning for northern Marion County in west-central Alabama until 11:45 p.m. This is a CONFIRMED tornado, per the National Weather Service. This warning includes Hamilton and Hackleburg.
As of 10:52 p.m. the storm was located over Armory, Miss., and was moving northeast at 60 mph.
The National Weather Service said this was a “particularly dangerous situation.” The damage threat from this storm is labeled as “considerable.”
Take cover now if you are in the path of this storm! Safest place is in the center of the structure you’re in, on the lowest floor.
* 10:48 p.m.: Those in manufactured homes in Marion and Lamar counties, a very dangerous storm is headed your way. Please take safe shelter now.
* 10:45 p.m.: Watching a dangerous storm just over the state line in Mississippi, headed for west Alabama:
* 10:41 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning for Lauderdale, Colbert, northern Franklin and northwestern Lawrence counties in northwest Alabama until 11:30 p.m.
As of 10:40 p.m. storms were located along a ling from Underwood-Petersville to Barton to 6 miles northeast of Red Bay and were moving east at 55 mph.
* 10:20 p.m.: First tornado warning tonight. Tornado warning until 11 p.m. for Lauderdale and northwestern Colbert counties in northwest Alabama. This includes Florence and Muscle Shoals.
As of 10:10 p.m. the storm was located near Midway and was moving northeast at 60 mph.
* 10:15 p.m.: Those in northwest Alabama need to be on guard, according to the National Weather Service:
* 10:05 p.m.: First warning of the night: A severe thunderstorm warning will be in effect for Lauderdale, Colbert and central Franklin counties in northwest Alabama until 10:45 p.m.
As of 10:04 p.m. a line of storms extended from near Waterloo to Midway to Burton and was moving east at 50 mph. The storms had wind gusts up to 60 mph.
* 10 p.m.: Storms are approaching northwest Alabama as of 10 p.m., and the potential for tornadoes is being watched closely:
* 9:58 p.m.: Heads up, northwest Alabama. Storms should reach you around 10:30 p.m., per the National Weather Service in Huntsville:
* 9:55 p.m.: An update from the National Weather Service in Mobile. South Alabama should hopefully be spared the brunt of the bad weather tonight, but a few strong storms will still be possible:
* 9:30 p.m.: A tornado watch has been issued for all of north Alabama and part of central Alabama and will be in effect until 3 a.m. Saturday.
The Alabama counties in the tornado watch are Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Walker and Winston.
The Storm Prediction Center said a few tornadoes are “likely” in the watch area, “with a couple intense tornadoes possible.”
There could also be wind gusts up to 75 mph and hail up to 1 inch in diameter.
* 9:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service continued to track dangerous storms over Mississippi that were headed eastward as of 9:30 p.m. One storm in particular has caused significant damage in Mississippi. If it holds together it could affect parts of western Alabama over the next few hours, and forecasters were giving those in Alabama a heads up to be prepared:
Earlier Friday:
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has expanded a Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather for parts of north and west Alabama tonight into Saturday morning. The enhanced risk area now includes places like Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, Hamilton, Cullman and Muscle Shoals, among others.
A Level 3 risk means numerous severe storms will be possible.
Other parts of Alabama also face the prospect of severe weather tonight and into Saturday morning. A swath of north, central and west Alabama has a Level 2 risk, which means that scattered severe storms are possible.
And parts of east and south Alabama have a Level 1 risk and could see isolated severe storms.
The Level 1 risk will extend into Saturday morning for areas in southeast Alabama as well.
Tornadoes, damaging winds, hail and heavy rain will all be possible with the strongest storms tonight.
The National Weather Service urged Alabamians to make sure they have a reliable way to get severe weather warnings -- warnings that will wake you up -- in case they become necessary later tonight.
Storms were crossing Mississippi as of 8:45 p.m. and were expected to reach parts of northwestern Alabama between 9:30 and 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The Alabama counties in the tornado watch are Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Walker and Winston.
The Storm Prediction Center said a few tornadoes are “likely” in the watch area, “with a couple intense tornadoes possible.”
There could also be wind gusts up to 75 mph and hail up to 1 inch in diameter.
The SPC will be keeping a particularly close watch on parts of Mississippi and northwest Alabama, where there will be a higher potential for tornadoes over the next few hours:
Here’s a look at what the National Weather Service is expecting overnight:
Calmer weather is expected by Saturday afternoon, but more storms will be possible, especially across south Alabama, on Sunday as a warm front lifts northward across the state.
There will be a Level 1 risk for severe weather for south and south-central Alabama on Sunday:
There will be a Level 1 risk for severe weather for much of south Alabama on Sunday as well.