On this date 74 years ago, Alabamians experienced the worst tornado outbreak on record. On March 21, 1932, at least two waves of storms struck the state, producing at least 15 strong or violent tornadoes in which more than 300 people were killed. The single deadliest tornado in Alabama history occurred in this outbreak: a twister that killed 49 people on its 60 mile journey across Perry, Bibb, Chilton, Shelby, and Coosa counties.

One of the tornadoes that day rolled through parts of Dallas, Chilton, and Coosa counties, killing a number of people, including 7 members of one family in the community of Riderville, which in the southwest corner of Chilton County near Stanton and Plantersville. A surviving member of that family, Jack Latham, was featured in one of our stories this year for Storm Alert 2006. He was only four years old at the time, but his memory of the event is amazingly clear. Mr. Latham lost both parents and five brothers and sisters. All of the family members are buried at the Ebenezer Baptist Church cemetery at Stanton.

If you missed our Storm Alert tour this year and our story about the March 21, 1932 Alabama tornado outbreak, we are delighted to announce we will have a one hour special on ABC 33/40 this Sunday evening at 6:00 that will feature the Jack Latham story. We will also have great video features on “global warming” and the possible Alabama connection with Brian Peters and Dr. John Christy of the University of Alabama at Huntsville, the wild hurricane season of 2005 with Jason Simpson and Dr. Keith Blackwell of the University of South Alabama, and our new SkyCam network with John Oldshue and the gang from Stratus Station in Hamilton.

If you won’t be home, roll a tape or program the TIVO!

A wide area of rain and thunderstorms continues moving slowly southeastward across Central and South Alabama this evening. The heaviest activity is over South Central Alabama where moderate rain and widespread thunderstorms continue. A damaging bow echo is moving out of eastern Bullock County into Georgia.

The heaviest part of the storm is passing just south of Columbus GA and Phenix City at 8:30. Strong winds were moving across the Columbus/Phenix City area at 8:30 p.m. Winds gusted to 32 mph at Columbus GA at 8:30 p.m. CST.

Funnel cloud was reported 10 SW of Columbus GA or 3 miles WSW of Seale in Russell County at 8:15 p.m.

Tornado Watch number 105 continues until 2 a.m. for severeal counties in South Alabama. Russell and Tallapoosa counties are included in the watch.

Tornado Watch 103 is getting skinnier. Montgomery and Elmore counties are still included along with some other counties in Southwest Alabama. It goes until 10 p.m.

The Flash Flood Watch continues for North Central Alabama. Radar estimates indicate 1 to 3 inches of rain fell across parts of Greene... Hale... Tuscaloosa... Jefferson and Shelby Counties this afternoon and evening. The precipitation is tapering off across this part of the state.

Village Creek rose to a stage of ten feet at Ensley. The Flash Flood warning continues for Jefferson Coutny until 9 p.m.

Funnel cloud was reported 10 SW of Columbus GA or 3 miles WSW of Seale in Russell County at 8:15 p.m.

CORRECTED WIND SPEED

At 7:35 p.m. CST, winds gusted to 74 knots (85 mph) at the automatic observing station at the Auburn Opelika Airport. The severe thunderstorm warning continues for Lee County until 7:45 p.m. and will likely be extended.

In addition, an even nastier looking storm moving through Macon County near Tuskegee will move through Lee County also.

Strong winds are being reported across parts of the area this evening behind the line of storms. Gusts of 35-40 mph were estimated atop Red Mountain. These winds are probably associated with a feature called a gravity wave. They could bring down some tree limbs and even weakened trees, so be careful.

A line of thunderstorms continues across East Central and South Central Alabama this evening. It extends from Chambers County, through Lee County, then through Elmore and Montgomery County and on into Southwest Alabama.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Lee County until 7:45 p.m. The most dangerous segment extends from east of Wetumpka down to Pike Road and then to east of Fort Deposit. The other dangerous segment extends from Opelika northward to east of Five Points in Chambers County. Warnings are expiring for Mongomery and Chambers County.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Bullock and Macon Counties until 8:15 p.m.

The tornado watch has been cancelled for Autauga, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry, and Sumter Counties Alabama. Tornado watches 103 and 105 continue until 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. respective for the rest of South and South Central Alabama.

Moderate to heavy rain is exiting Cleburne County into Georgia at this time.

A flash flood warning is in effect for Jefferson County. Rain is tapering over parts of North Central Alabama, but runoff from heavy rains will continue for the next hour or so. Remember, turn around don't drown.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for North Central Alabama.

Seere weather reports...

Trees down on Vaughn Road in Montgomery...in fact, tree limbs are reportedly down over much of the city of Montgomery...winds gusted to 60 mph in Montgomery...

Trees are reported down in Opelika...

Winds gusted to 45 mph in Auburn...

Penny sized hail at Lafayette in Chambers County...

From Matthew Romei located on Rex Lake Road about 4 miles SW of the Barber's Motorsports Museum between Irondale and Leeds:

2.24 inches, storm total as of about 6:35 this evening
24 hour total 1.85

49 degrees present temperature

It is for Washington and Clarke Counties until 7:30.

Thunderstorm that could produce a tornado was near Prestwick moving toward the east at a very fast 60 mph.

One tag-on note...
In Birmingham Metro, rain is tapering off in parts of jefferson but it is still pouring in Shelby County.

Bill Murray will be filing some blog reports soon.

Tornado Warning for Elmore County in East Central Alabama until 6:45
Tornado Warning for Central Tallapoosa County until 6:45, including Wind Creek State Park and Dadeville
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Washington and Choctaw County in SW Alabama
Flash Flood Warning for jefferson Countu until 9 pm.

NEW TORNADO WATCH
It is until 1 am for Extreme South Alabama and NW Florida: The counties are:

BALDWIN BARBOUR BULLOCK
CHAMBERS COFFEE COVINGTON
DALE ESCAMBIA GENEVA
HENRY HOUSTON LEE
MACON MOBILE PIKE
RUSSELL TALLAPOOSA

This in addition to the Tormado Watch issued earlier north of that area that goes until 10.

RAINFALL TOTALS THROUGH 6 PM
1.70 at Tuscaloosa Airport
1.69 at Birmingham Airport
1.37 in Helena
1.50 at Riverchase (3340)
2.52 along the Hueytown-Concord line in West Jefferson County
0.86 at Anniston Airport
0.62 in Decatur
1.37 at Shelby County Airport
1.08 in Gadsden
0.73 in Huntsville
2.32 in Meridian (Miss.)

Those amounts since noon

Widespread rain continues over a large part of Alabama late this afternoon although it is beginning to taper off in areas west and NW of Birmingham.

Enough rain has fallen...up to 2.50 inches based on radar estimates...that the NWS has posted a Flash Flood Warning for jefferson Countuy until 9 o'clock tonight.

It is possible that another one to two inches will fall over part of the area by 9 o'clock tonight before the heavy rain ends.

Village Creek may approach bankfull. Patton Creek as well as other small streams will experience rapid rises and flash flooding.

The north half of Alabama continues to get a widespread soaking. A Flash Flood Watch continues tonight for much of the area. Here are some rainfall totals through 5:00pm. Most of this rain has fallen since noon.

1.52 inches at Tuscaloosa Airport
1.41 at Birmingham Airport
1.04 in Trussville
1.03 in Helena (Brian Peters)
1.13 in Riverchase (James Spann 33/40)
2.24 in East Mississippi at Meridian

Big temperature contrasts across the state at 5:00pm due to that warm front that has been trying to push north. A warm 75 degrees at Ozark, Evergreen, Troy and Montgomery, but a very cold and wet 39 degrees at Mentone on Lookout Mountain in NE Alabama.

The warm front at 5:00pm was just north of Alexander City.

A Flash Flood Watch continues for a large part of North-Central Alabama for tonight and a Tornado Watch continues for part of Central and SW Alabama. No part of the greater Birmingham area is included in the Tornado Watch.

THESE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT:
Tornado Warning for Clarke and Washington Counties in SW Alabama until 5:45
Tornado Warning for Greene County in SE Mississippi

5:20 PM RADAR REPORT:
Widespread rain over the NW two-thirds of Alabama, including some strong thunderstorms over the SW part. Lots of lightning across the SW and central counties. Torrential rain over Eastern Marengo, Northern Wilcox, Western Dallas and South Perry Counties and very heavy rain NE of there to Shelby, Coosa and part of Talladega Counties. Rain has diminished a bit in the Birmingham area, but it is still heavy to the north from Winston and Lawrence Counties eastward.

* At Meridian, in East Mississippi, significant flash-flooding has been reported. Water is two feet deep in the Emergency Room at Rush Hospital.

* Meridian Airport (Key Field) reports 2.13 inches of rain since 1 pm including 1.28 inches between 3 pm and 4 pm.

Other rainfall reports since noon...

0.68 of an inch at Helena (Brian Peters)
0.74 at Riverchase (James Spann at 3340)
0.91 at Birmingham Airport
1.04 at Tuscaloosa Airport

These amounts as of 4 pm...

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