Continuing with our series on the deadliest tornadoes in United States history.

6. The family of tornadoes that tore a 221 mile path of terror across northern Texas, Oklahoma and all the way into Kansas on April 9, 1947 ranks as the sixth deadliest in U.S. history. The F5 tornado derailed a Santa Fe freight train at White Deer, Texas. It left only one building standing in the town of Glazier, Texas. Twenty four people were killed at Higgins, Texas. By the time one of the tornadoes approached Woodward, Oklahoma, it had swelled to over two miles in width. The air in the small town was heavy as concerned residents looked to the southwest at a fearful cloud racing toward them. Just before the tornado arrived, the town was plunged into inky blackness. One third of the town was wiped off the face of the earth. 116 people died in Woodward alone. A total of 181 were killed along the path of the tornadoes.

5. On April 6, 1936, morning newspapers carried headlines of unbelievable devastation from a tornado the night before at Tupelo, Mississippi. Even as rescuers were sifting through the destruction from the previous day, trouble was brewing in northern Georgia. A tornado touched down briefly on the edge of Gainesville, Georgia about 8:27 a.m. About ten minutes later, two funnels reportedly merged into one on the western side of town. The resultant massive funnel plowed through the heart of the city, laying a four block wide area to waste. Nearly every building in the path was destroyed. 750 homes were swept away. The one ton bell from the courthouse was blown 350 yards. A total of 203 people were killed in the disaster.

4. The next deadliest tornado is the one that occurred the night before the Gainesville tornado. It was a Sunday night in the northeast Mississippi town of Tupelo. The tornado touched down at 8:55 p.m. in the western suburb of Tupelo and carved a 400 yard wide path through the city’s residential district. The total path length was only twenty miles, but 216 people were killed and over 700 were injured.

That line of showers and storms much, much weaker.

At 4:30, what's left (mostly just rain showers) near the Walker-Jefferson County line west of Birmingham. Moving east.

Most of the lightning has wimped out.

The next line of showers and storms extends from South Arkansas NE to Middle Tennessee arfound Nashville. This is closer to the cold front and will probably be our main source of getting any appreciable rain late tonight.

Even so, widespread significant rain not likely.

This will probably be last update until later tonight unless something unexpected happens.

Time for fresh coffee...life goes on...

That line of showers and storms across North and West Alabama has weakened especially in the last half-hour.

In fact, lightning activity has diminished considerably.

Strongest storm still in South Fayette County but it is weaker also.

Movement still toward the east

At mid-afternoon, the line of thunderstorms extended from Jackson County, in NE Alabama, southwestward to near Cullman and Fayette County to North Pickens County adjacent to the Mississippi border.

Not a solid line of strong storms but considerable lightning.

At 3 pm, strongest storm was moving east across South Fayette County. Tops were 43,000 feet on that storm but now lower.

No recent Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama.

To the North, Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 6 PM, CDT for Central and East Tennessee.

A new line of storms in Mid and West Tennessee prompted a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the Nashville Metro area.

To our west, some of the storms may reach Birmingham area by late afternoon...say 5 to 6 o'clock. Will still see others late tonight.

It was issued for Jackson County in NE Alabama until 2:15 pm.

At 1:40 pm, a line of thunderstorms extended from just west of Scottsboro southwestward to near Hartselle, Double Springs and Vernon. The line of storms moving eastward and entering NW Cullman County.

Still lots of lightning involved.

From Vernon, in Lamar County, the line of storms extends down across East and South Mississippi into SE Louisiana. However, in those areas, far from a solid line of torms yet.

To the west, where there are no storms, the Storm Prediction Center concerned about some possible strong storms developing later over North Louisiana as leftover energy from last night spreads east from Texas.

The main cold front still bacl over the SE corner of Missouri.

For complete details on the local forecast, check Bill Murray's 7-day discussion.

NOTE TO JUSTIN: I'm in the same boat with you Justin, no measurable rain at my place all month. In fact, I think the May total so far is only about 25 drops.

They continue moving generally eastward. A line of storms moved into NW Alabama earlier and for a time, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was posted for Limestone County in Extreme North Alabama.

At 12:45 pm, most of the thunderstorms extended from the Huntsville-Hamilton line westward. The line of storms not as sharply defined as earlier but still producing considerable lightning.

Muscle Shoals Airport, gust to 39 mph.

To the north, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch continues for a good part of Middle and East Tennessee until 6 pm CDT.

No storms anywhere near Birmingham at this time.

At 11:20 this morning a line of thunderstorms extended from NE Mississippi into West and Middle Tennessee and had moved into Extreme NW Alabama.

In Alabama, the line of storms was across the central parts of Lauderdale and Colbert County into NW Franklin County.

Lots of lightning with these storms and conditions are becoming more favorable for some strong storms.

As the thunderstorms advance east and SE don't be surprised if a Severe Thunderstorm Warning may be required in a few spots.

These storms are well ahead of the main cold front which is still back over SE Missouri.