Weather Brains episode 30 is now on the web, and available on iTunes:

http://www.weatherbrains.com

In this week's podcast:

- What will happen with the latest tropical system churning in the eastern Atlantic?
Jason Simpson shares his thoughts;
- Understanding Climate Change: We begin a two part series looking at the complexities of our planet's climate with Dr. Bob Carter, an Australian researcher who has spent over 30 years learning about the earth's climate history;
- Jason Simpson tells us about the job he always dreamed about: Working with James Spann;
- Not easy! J. B. Elliott remembers the difficulty of getting news and weather information during his childhood years...

Join host Davd Black and our team of weather geeks for our weekly 30 minute podcast!

Thanks to ABC 33/40 Skywatcher Michelle Miklik for these great pictures from Cheaha State Park, taken in the fall of last year. Bring on October!

The leading edge of the thunderstorms that came through Central Alabama this afternoon and this evening is hard to identify. The line has mostly broken apart but it extends from NW Georgia down through East Central Alabama to near Montgomery.

Storms have weakened greatly but there is a big rain area lingering behind that covers much of Cemtral Alabama.

There is another big bunch of strong thunderstorms over East Arkansas and NW Mississippi. Will be interesting to see their plans. Outflow from that could affect our weather tomorrow.

A COUPLE OF LATE REPORTS
* Debby Clayton is a frequent reader of our blog and an eforecast subscriber. I like the way she describes her location as her Tri-county Corner of the World. Which means she lives very near where Jefferson, St. Clair and Blount County join. She reports 1.50 inches of rain in about 90 minutes this afternoon along with "tons of lightning."

Not too far away, in My Tiny Corner of The World (NE Trussville) where I live with my little 9-pound bundle of energy, Little Miss Molly, we were cheated. A mere 0.15 is all we got. But life goes on, wet or dry. Maybe better luck tomorrow.

Please scroll down to see a lot more rainfall reports. Shelby County was hardest hit with flooding rains.

Interesting note from weatherjames, our Skywatcher in Huntsville. He could see a brilliant display of lightning from big storms in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

Strongest storms now over in East Alabama down into the central part. Examples:

* Anniston/Oxford area
* North Talladega County
* Clay County
* Coosa County
* to near Selma

UPDATED RAINFALL
(Please scroll down to see earlier reports)
1.00 inch (at least) estimated at Weaver in North Calhoun County
1.14at Alpine in West Talladega County
0.79 at Bankhead Lock and Dam
2.10 at Manchester (Walker County)
0.75 in Oneonta
1.54 in Steele
0.84 at Trafford (NE Jefferson County)

New Severe Thunderstorm Warning is for Talladega County until 6:45 pm.

Main thunderstorms at 6:15 were located:

* St. Clair County
* Calhoun County
* Talladega County
* Shelby County (although diminishing)
* Perry County

The main line of storms has now moved east of the Birmingham area although some locally heavy rain continues in Shelby County.

MORE UPDATED REPORTS
* David Black reports 1.73 inches of rain in the Alabaster/Maylene area
* Stephanie Honeycutt reported 1.34 in Alabaster, but rain now lighter
* 2.42 inches at 3340 Skycam at Inverness
* 1.68 inches at Inverness (two miles east of Skycam site)
* 0.46 at Mt. Cheaha (Skycam)
* 0.91 at 3340 Weather Office, Riverchase

NWS reports trees down three miles east of Sweetwater, Marengo County, on County Road 16

Flash Flood Warning continues until 7 for Central Shelby County. Scroll down.

* 2.06 inches of rain already at 3340 Weather Office in Riverchase
* Stephanie Honeycutt reports 1.11 in Alabaster
* David Black reports 1.15 inches in Alabaster/Maylene with a very intense thunderstorm still in progress.
* Nathan Jones reports 2.42 inches in Helena. He has no power
* 0.88 rainfall in Cordova, Walker County
* 2.26 inches at 3340 Skycam in Inverness
* 1.58 from another location in Inverness
* Michael Mills reports 1.85 inches in Alabaster
* Vic Bell reports 1.56 inches at Black Creek in NE Etowah County. That area has been bypassed a lot lately and needed rain very badly.
* Jemison, North Chilton County reports gusts to 46 mph just before 6 pm

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Perry County in West Central Alabama until 6:15. Storm was stationary.

From Nathan Jones...
This is the scene now from Pelham. Im at the Birmingham South Campground in Pelham.

This report received via the 3340 Weather Blog from Gardendale, North Jefferson County:
---------------------
At around 4:35 P.M. this line of storms was moving through Gardendale area and caused our power to go out about 4 times and knocked down the "Big 10 Tires" sign which has just been repaired about 2 months ago from the tornado that moved through Gardendale back in April! Lot of cloud to ground lightning!!

Flash Flood Warning continues for Central Shelby County until 7 pm. Scroll down for more details.

At 5:25 pm, main line of storms extended from NE Jefferson County across East and South Jefferson County and throufh West Shelby County...then across Bibb to South Hale and Marengo County in West Alabama.

Whole system moving generally eastward.

FROM 3340 SKYWATCHERS:

* Stephanie Honeycutt reports 0.88 rainfall in Alabaster
* Greystone Farms dark enough for street lights to come on
* Chuck Biddinger reports very heavy rain in East Lake
* 0.56 rainfall at Inverness, 3340 Skycam
* Nathan Jones reports 2.22 inches of rain in Helena
* 1.55 inches of rain in Inverness at 3340 Skycam

* Person trapped in automobile by high water in the Chadwick Subdivision in Helena

Flash Flood Warning for Central Shelby County until 7 pm, CDT. Includes:

Pelham
Meadowbrook
Inverness
Helena
Alabaster
Oak Mountain State Park
Lake Purdy
Chelsea

Downpours of rain causing the flooding.

Nathan Jones, 3340 Weather Watcher in Helena reported winds estimated at over 60 mph. He reported picnic tables overturned by high winds near Pelham.

Jason Simpson reports winds estimated to 45 mph in Alabaster.

Big strong storms now moving through the Greater Birmingham area producing locally high winds, torrents of rain and very dangerous lightning.