This is getting into a transitional time of the year for me. Here in the weather office, most years, we do our most intense work from January through May. The weather itself creates many long days, with winter storm and severe weather threats. It is also the time of the year when we conduct our annual Storm Alert tour (in February), distribute the annual severe weather DVD (in January), put together our annual spring prime time special (in late March), and work a number of special events like the Regions Charity Golf Classic this past weekend.

For me, the most time consuming part of my day this time of the year is the daily school weather program. It takes time, but I sure enjoy doing them. On just about a daily basis, I am in a school speaking to kids about the science of meteorology. Some days, I drive over two hours to get to my destination (like today; I am scheduled to speak at Haralson County Middle School in Tallapoosa, Georgia, and on other days the school is close to the station. I love speaking to children, and I also love taking the “roads less traveled” as I criss-cross the state.

But, with the school year about to wind down, and with the tornado season coming to an end in a few weeks, it is time to think about the slower summer days. Sure, we can have tropical storms and hurricanes that keep us extremely busy, but generally speaking the season gives us a much needed chance to catch our breath. One sure sign that the summer season is almost here is that I am working on my annual “Spann’s Best Way To The Bama Beaches” article which is published here annually in mid to late May.

I also take my first vacation week of the year in June; that is a needed getaway after the long winter and spring weather season. Time to get a little rest and charge the batteries in a few weeks!

The strongest storms and heaviest rain had shifted into East and South Alabama tonight. Most of the intense thunderstorms were over extreme South Alabama.

There were numerous reports of hail and wind damage today, but we do not know of any reports of significant structural damage. It was mostly trees and power lines down. For example, numerous trees were reported down across Lauderdale County in NW Alabama.

Around 5:30 pm, flash flooding was reported in Haleyville in Winston County with downtown traffic shut down.

Here is a selection of rainfall amounts from today's storms. In many places, most of this rain fell in about 2 hours.

0.94 in Center Point
2.61 in Bessemer (the largest total we have seen)
0.60 in Columbiana
1.42 in Hueytown/Concord in about 90 minutes
1.16 in downtown Tuscaloosa (County Courthouse)
1.42 at Riverchase (33/40 studios)
1.20 in Inverness
0.75 in South Trussville
2.00 in downtown Birmingham (Daniel Building)
1.56 in Helena
1.55 in Maylene/Alabaster
1.03 atop Mt. Cheaha

Now, we will probably have to fight severe weather again Wednesday. In fact, it could be a stronger version of it. The Storm Prediction Center has all of Alabama under a slight risk of severe weather for Wednesday. The slight risk also covers most of Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Western Ohio, Southern Illinois and SE Missouri.

Within that slight risk area is a moderate risk for Western Kentucky, Western Tennessee, extreme Eastern Arkansas, most of Mississippi and extreme West Alabama. Some of the Alabama communities that may be in that moderate risk area include Florence, Russellville, Hamilton, Demopolis and Livingston.

All of that may be adjusted with later updates in the early morning hours of Wednesday. We will watch and wait. This will probably be our last update for this evening, but we will awaken fresh and ready for whatever we are dealt with Wednesday.

Fortunately, we have plenty of coffee in house.

At 8:15, the heaviest rain had shifted east and south and extended from near Anniston, down across the Talladega-Childersburg area into South Shelby and North Bibb County. The Severe Thundersatorm Watch is no longer in effect for any of those areas.

In fact, the NWS/Birmingham has cancelled the watch for these additional counties:

Greene
Hale
Perry
Pickens
Sumter
Dallas
Marengo
Lowdnes

These rainfall totals through 8 'oclock tonight and most of it within two hours:

1.42 inches at Riverchase (3340 Weather Office)
1.13 at Inverness
1.95 in Downtown Birmingham (Daniel Building)
1.15 in Tuscaloosa (County Courthouse)
1.35 in Helena with roadside ditches nearly full
1.55 in Maylene/Alabaster (David Black)
0.75 in South Trussville (Bill Murray)
0.07 in Gadsden
0.25 in Hamilton

Some Greater Birmingham Rainfall as of 7:40 pm

1.93 inches in Downtown Birmingham (Daniel Building)
1.92 near Bessemer
1.40 Hueytown/Concord in 90 minutes
1.04 in Inverness
1.23 in Riverchase (3340 Weather Office)
0.71 in South Trussville (Bill Murray)

The Severe Thunderstorm Watch that was in effect until 10:00 pm has already been canceled for these counties:

Autauga
Bibb
Blount
Chilton
Jefferson
Shelby
Tuscaloosa
Walker

This means that the watch is no longer in effect for the greater Birmingham area.

The watch does continue until 10:00 pm for these counties:

Dallas
Greene
Hale
Lowndes
Marengo
Perry
Pickens
Sumter

It is likely that some of those will be cleared before 10:00 pm. Earler several NW Alabama counties were cleared.

However, heavy rain continues in parts of the greater Birmingham area. Street flooding has been reported on Highways 119 and 31, but we are not sure if it is in th Pelham or Alabaster area, but look for some water covered roadways until the storms subside.

Some rainfall amounts as of 7:20 pm
0.67 at Riverchase (33/40 studios)
0.28 at Tuscaloosa
0.26 in Inverness
1.89 downtown Birmingham (33/40 skycam site, Daniel Bldg))
0.67 in Birmingham (Alabama Power Company report)
0.76 at Holt (east edge of Tuscaloosa)
1.73 in one hour and 10 minutes near I-59 and I-65 (from NWS)

Radar at 7:15 indicated that showers have diminished greatly across Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker and Winston Counties. Locally heavy rain continues from south of Cullman down across Jefferson and Shelby Counties.

Strong thunderstorms with lots of lightning and very heavy rain now moving across the Birmingham area.

To the northwest, line of intense storms at 6:30 extended from Cullman down to jasper...to near Berry in SE Fayette County.

Movement is east and the storms still have plenty of punch. However, the Severe Thunderstorm Warning for East Winston and North Walker County expired at 6:30. A warning continues for Cullman County until 6:45.

Around 6:30 pm, the NWS/Birmingham cleared the following counties from the Severe Thunderstorm Watch:

Lamar
Winston
Fayette
Marion

All those counties are in West Alabama.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for North Walker and East Winston County until 6:30 pm.

Includes the Jasper and Cordova areas.

The line of intense thunderstorms moving east at 35 mph.

A weak rotation noted, so not impossible that a tornado could develop.

Large hail and damaging winds main danger.

Other strong thunderstorms entering West Jefferson County approaching Birmingham

It is in effect until 6:45.

The line of very intense thunderstorms was approaching the NW edge of Cullman County at 5:55 pm.

Matt McCracken, EMA Director for Marion County, reports several trees down on Marion County Highway 29, 4.5 miles north of Hamilton.

Dime-size hail at the Haleyville Fire Station at 5:34 pm.

A Tornado Warning continues for Madison County in extreme North Alabama until 5:45.

A funnel cloud was reported near Brooks Church Road near Hazel Green, which is north of Huntsville and a little later near the Bobo community. Also a report of a funnel cloud near Balch and Browns Ferry in Madison County.

Wind damage reported in Southern Giles County (Tennessee) from this complex of storms.

Wind gusts 35-40 mph at the Huntsville Weather Office.

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings continue for 9 counties in NW Alabama and for 4 counties in Central and East Mississippi.

Radar at 5:40 pm showed intense thunderstorms now approaching the Montgomery area. They are numerous across South-Central Alabama, as well as the west-central part of the state. Strong thunderstorms also indicated in South Walker County south of Jasper. Some of those will reach West Jefferson County shortly.

Tornado Warning for Washington and Clarke County in SW Alabama until 6 pm.

Latest Severe Thunderstorm Warning is for Marion, Winston and Fayette County in NW Alabama until 6.

Line of thunderstorms now moving weast as fast as 60 mph!

Marion County EMA Office reports a weather-related accident south of I-22 with injuries.

(Please scroll down for a lot more information that is still current)