How would you like to be away from home a few hours, then return and discover that the larger of your two dogs had attacked and critically injured your smaller dog?

I got an e-mail recently from Linda Knight telling of her experience. It's a story that's too horrible to imagine. I asked Linda for permission to use her story. I believe it will help all of us dog lovers appreciate our pets even more. Let's listen to the story in Linda's own words.

"I read your weather e-mail every weekday and love reading about Molly. Make sure to cherish every moment with her that you can. My Shih-tzu, Leah, was killed on Sunday by my other larger dog while I was away from the house. A total freak accident took away my 10-year companion and no amount of money or tears could give me a second chance to turn back time and fix it for her. She lived long enough to let me know that she knew I was there and then God took her to be with Him. At least where she is she will never hurt and the injuries she sustained will be whole. I would like to commend veterarian Keri Riddick and her staff at the Emergency and Specialty Animal Medical Center off of Acton Road. They did everything in their power to make it ok, but she ended up dying from complications from perhaps a blood clot. So, again, spend every moment, and love everything she does like there's no tomorrow because freak accidents happen. And, we all know how dominant a Shih-tzu can be. They are 10-feet tall and bullet prrof to have them tell it. This one time she didn't have me there to back her up and for that I will forever feel the guilt and pain of not being there to be her ultimate protector."

Linda continues in her own words: "Always let Molly give you kisses and know that when she runs up to give you kisses in your mouth that one day you will miss those nasty little kisses, so let her have them now. Never turn down a chance to share Molly's love because you will never find a love as pure and neverfailing as hers. Leah and Sally had lived inside together without any problems for more than four years. As I have stated, my guilt for being overly confident in Leah's safety with Sally is something that I will never get over, but I will have to learn from it. It was a lesson that had too high a price."

And more from Linda, "This has been a reminder that there is an innate instinct in animals that, no matter how much we try, we cannot take out of them. I am to blame for humanizing them. Since the incident, Sally has grieved tremendously, lying on Leah's bed, looking for her throughout the house, not eating, and not having anything to do with anyone. I never would have believed that she would have been taking her actions as hard as she has. This has taught me a valuable lesson that will only make me a better and more realistic parent in the future. I hope you and Molly get to spend some quality time between the bad weather events."

That is the story from Linda. I included a shorter version of it in the Thursday afternoon e-forecast and 7-day discussion, but there was just not enough room to describe the whole event. I certainly feel for Linda and she is offering to let us use her story to encourage us all to not take our pets for granted and to enjoy the time we have with them since they are not around forever. As I mentioned in the e-forecast, I am a strong person emotionally, but Linda's story made me misty eyed.

Life goes on...

On this date seven years ago, 34 people lost their life in Alabama as deadly tornadoes dropped from severe thunderstorms. April 8, 1998 will always be a red letter day in state weather history. The big tornado of the night was an F5 that roared through the western part of Jefferson county and the suburbs of Birmingham. The big twister took out Oak Grove High School shortly before 8:00 that Wednesday night, and stayed on the ground for just over 30 miles, affecting communities like Rock Creek, Edgewater, McDonald Chapel, Sylvan Springs, and Pratt City. The death toll from the F5 was 32; two more died in another tornado that dropped from the same thunderstorm over St. Clair county, north of Pell City.

I could just about write a book about that night and things that happened in the days following the tragedy. That was the night we proved to the critics that our policy of long form, “wall to wall” coverage on ABC 33/40 during tornado warnings was the right thing to do. It was a night when 14 churches were heavily damaged or destroyed, but all lives in those church buildings were spared during Wednesday evening services. Some of those huddled in a hallway at Open Door church saw angels holding up the remaining wall that protected them.

I would like to hear every sermon preached by all of those pastors the following Sunday morning, which was Easter.

For me, the hardest part of the disaster was the procession of funerals the following week. Numbers really don’t mean much; but when you put faces and life stories on those 34 names the true scope of the tragedy was seen. The last one to die was Nathan Seals, an 8 year old third grader at North Highlands Elementary School in Hueytown. Nathan’s family saw the warning on ABC 33/40, and did everything right. God simply took the child home for reasons we will not know in this life. I am thankful for the many friends I have made as a result of the tornado, including Nathan’s dad, Matthew. And, many others.

I remember when Jeff Blankenship came up to me when I was live on the air from one of the hardest hit areas the day President Clinton came to tour the damage. Jeff thanked me for our long form tornado coverage, and I knew he really meant it. Being physically and emotionally exhausted, I cried. An encouraging word goes a long way; my two greatest battles in life are discouragement and fatigue. I will never forget that moment. Despite Jeff's kind words, I had very little to do with saving anyone's life that night; it was a "God thing". All about Him, not about me or anyone else around here.

There actually were plenty of real heroes the night of April 8, 1998. Every person with a chain saw who cleared trees so paramedics could get to people who were hurt and dying. Those who simply held the hand of injured friends and loved ones while they were waiting medical help. The first responders were heroes; including dozens of fire and rescue teams, paramedics, and even utility crews.

Man, the memories are flowing. Seems like it was just yesterday. Lets pray next time a strong/violent tornado blows through here we don't lose 34 precious lives. Life is so fragile.

See the Birmingham NWS storm report on the event here:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/april_08_1998/april_08_1998.html

Watch Bill Castle's touching video on the event here:
http://beta.abc3340.com/static/weather/video/april1998tornado.wmv

And, watch some of our live coverage the night of April 8, 1998 here:
http://beta.abc3340.com/static/weather/video/040898tornado.WMV

The weather is slowly calming down, Quite a few of the thunderstorms this afternoon contained hail as expected. With the sun sinking lower in the west and the loss of daytime heating, the storms will be weaker.

Almost all of the hail was 1/2 inch diameter or smaller...but there were a few larger stones and a few Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.

At 5:20 pm, the strongest thunderstorms were over Talladega County. One of our readers reported around one half inch of rain rather quickly on the east shore of Lake Logan Martin.

Unless the storms grow stronger again, this will probably be our last update concerning these storms.

We will keep all 12 eyes open...

A number of the thunderstorms around North and Central Alabama producing hail this afternoon.

Most of the hail 1/2 inch size of less which does not qualify for a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. However, a warning is in effect for Chilton County until 4:30.

1/2 inch hail reported west of Jacksonville in NE Alabama.

After we lose the daytime heating, these storms should go downhill.

A FEW QUICK NOTES...

SPC did not follow through with a Severe Thunderstorm Watch but a number of reports of hailers this afternoon.

NWS/Huntsville issued warnings for Jackson, Marshall and Morgan in NE Alabama.

Tops of the storms only about 35,000 feet. Colder air aloft favors hail with the storms.

Thunderstorms this afternoon are changable...they grow quickly but do not remmain strong very long. They can produce some quick hail and leave the community...or weaken.

Earlier...looked like there could be some hail around Springville.

Nice cell also moving NE along the Jefferson-Shelby County line headed toward Leeds.

FOLLOWUP FROM YESTERDAY
NWS says that was indeed an F0 tornado in Aliceville (Pickens County) at 5:51 pm. Started near Aliceville Manor Nursing Home and ended near Aliceville Country Club. Path 1.4 miles long and 50 yards wide. Nine homes damaged and trees and power lines down.

The Thursday afternoon web video is on the server:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

As expected, showers and storms are forming over Alabama this afternoon under a pool of very cold air aloft. Temperatures about 18,000 feet off the ground are down to -18 degrees (C), or -4 degrees (F). That cold air layer also means that hail is likely in the stronger storms for the next few hours.

To "officially" be severe, the hail needs to be 3/4" in diameter, and it seems like most of the reports so far are about 1/2" or less. A few severe thunderstorm warnings could be required later.

A few stray showers are still possible tomorrow, but the weekend looks very nice with ample sunshine and afternoon temperatures in the 70s.

NEXT STORM SYSTEM: The 12Z run is a little faster with the system early next week, suggesting the main storm event will come Monday night into Tuesday morning. However, we think that is a little fast, and at this point I still think the primary severe weather threat will come on Tuesday. The system looks very similar to the setup we had yesterday, so we will have to watch it very carefully as it develops Sunday and Monday. Some flooding could also be a factor.

Still looks like a pattern change by mid-month... hopefully it will reduce the number of severe weather threats for Alabama.

Have to run do an on-air update on ABC 33/40 at 3:00... J.B. Elliott will be staffing the blog for the evening.

The SPC (We all know those initials--They stand for the Storm Prediction Center) thinking of issuing a new watch for parts of NE and East Ala., North Ga., and Middle Tennessee.

In Alabama, the main threat should be east and NE of Birmingham and into North Georgia. SPC could change their mind, but if they do go for a watch, I think it would be a Severe Thunderstorm instead of Tornado.

Much better weather over the weekend. We all deserve a break--even Little Miss Molly!

Just peeked at the overnight ratings from Neilsen Media Research...

At 3:00 yesterday afternoon, when we were in long form weather coverage due to a rotating thunderstorm moving into southeast Tuscaloosa county, ABC 33/40 had a remarkable 24 share of the TV audience at the time. In this era when most households have over 300 channels to choose from, that is amazing to me. One out of every four television sets in use were on ABC 33/40 during the weather coverage yesterday.

It is also interesting to note that at that same time on Tuesday, with regular programming and no weather coverage, we only had an 8 share. So, our weather coverage tripled the normal audience we have at 3:00 on a weekday afternoon.

This is a simple note to say thanks for watching. Being the market leader in weather coverage is a huge responsibility, and we do not take it lightly!

The Thursday morning web video is online:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

Thanks to J.B. Elliott, Bill Murray, Jason Simpson, Brian Peters, and John Oldshue for their work yesterday and last night. You won't find another TV operation in the country with as many dedicated professionals. There is no way we could keep up with severe weather coverage on TV and here on the web without this team.

I will echo the big tip of the hat to the NWS office in Jackson, MS for their excellent warnings yesterday. No telling how many lives were saved... the damage was major, and widespread in our neighboring state.

Yesterday's weather pretty much turned out as I expected; not much severe weather across Alabama, but lots of rain. I was surprised by the rogue storm that prompted a tornado warning yesterday afternoon for Greene, Hale, and southeast Tuscaloosa county. Seems like that one was right on the warm front, but it died quickly once it moved into the stable air to the north. The air was simply too stable over most of Alabama for widespread severe weather. Dynamics were excellent, thermodynamics were marginal.

SPC maintains a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for much of Alabama today, but the risk is for large hail due to cold air aloft. Temperatures at 18,000 feet (500 mb) are as cold as -19 degrees C to the west in association with the upper low, and this pocket of cold air aloft will pass over north Alabama later today.

So... scattered showers and storms will stay in the forecast today. We might even see some showers that contain small hail, but no thunder and lightning.

A stray shower is possible tomorrow, but the weekend looks great with ample sunshine and mild afternoon temperatures.

HERE WE GO AGAIN: You look at the maps for Tuesday of next week, and they look like a clone of the maps from yesterday. A stacked low over Arkansas, and a chance of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding over Alabama. That will become our focus over the next few days.

THE LONG RANGE: Looks like we are going to get a pattern change by mid-month, which hopefully will mean fewer severe weather threats. A long wave trough sets up over the western U.S... and the GFS wants to keep it out there for a while. We will see how that plays out in coming weeks.

Headed out to Our Lady of Lourdes school this morning... be back in the office later today for the afternoon update.

The Tornado Watch expired at 1 o'clock this morning and is not being extended.

A line of thunderstorms still exists from the Cullman-Blount County line southwestward to west of Birmingham and down to near Greensboro and Demopolis. However, this line of storms has weakened considerably.

This will be our last update unless the thunderstorms grow stronger again.