Storm Damage Confirmed in Tuscaloosa, Moundville
Channel: Siri News
Date: 2021-03-17

Here is the latest as severe storms move over west Alabama and the rest of the state Wednesday evening.
In an effort to keep locals abreast of severe weather and other emergency scenarios, Tuscaloosa County EMA offers a free service called TuscALERT. This free service allows the user to select the weather alerts they are interested in, with time-sensitive notifications sent by text, email, and/or phone call.
The City of Tuscaloosa said it has activated incident command level 2 and its tornado shelters will open at 10 a.m. DCH Health System also amended its previous announcement for its coronavirus vaccination site, which will now close at 10 a.m. today.
9:30 a.m. — The National Weather Service forecast office in Birmingham is currently predicting impacts to begin for Tuscaloosa beginning around 1 p.m. — 2 p.m. The area has also been placed under a rare "high risk" classification, meaning violent long track tornadoes, damaging winds up to 80 mph and tennis ball size hail will be possible.
10:30 a.m. — Tuscaloosa County EMA recommends storm shelters across the county open to allow preparation time for those in need of shelter.
11:30 a.m. — A Tornado Watch has been issued for Tuscaloosa County and the surrounding area until 7 p.m. by the National Weather Service. The NWS also says Tuscaloosa can expect impacts from this storm beginning around 1 p.m. and lasting until approximately 2 a.m. Thursday morning.
1 p.m. — a Tornado Warning has been issued for parts of Greene and Sumter counties until 2 p.m., but does not directly apply to the cities of Livingston or York. This warned storm is currently tracking east toward the area between Forkland and Demopolis.
1:15 p.m. — ABC 33/40 Chief Meteorologist James Spann said on air that he had received reports of tornado sirens going off in Tuscaloosa, but assured residents it was likely due to a malfunction as the current tornado-warned storms are south of Tuscaloosa. Tornado Watch remains in effect until 7 p.m.
1:30 p.m. — As storms move through, meteorologists are warning motorists to stay off of U.S. Highway 43 between Eutaw and Forkland. One storm report filed with the NOAA Storm Prediction Center said dime size hail, with some up to the size of a quarter, near the Lamar County Airport. Just prior, another report said 20 to 30 trees had been blown down and minor structural damage from a possible tornado near Highway 17 and Walker Road.
1:40 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northwest Tuscaloosa County until 2:30 p.m. as it approaches northeast from Johnston Lake in Pickens County seven miles southeast of Carrollton, one of the areas that could see potential impacts from this storm could be the Brownville community of Tuscaloosa County. Residents of Gordo are also being cautioned to seek shelter as the storm has the potential to intensify quickly.
1:45 p.m. — Tuscaloosa County EMA provided an update after sirens were set off in one part of the county. Officials said the sirens were activated to warn southern Tuscaloosa County residents of approaching bad weather entering from Greene County. EMA then said the issue will be addressed to prevent false alarms from happening again in the future.
1:50 p.m.: A Tornado Warning has been issued along the Tombigee River, which includes the cities of Demopolis and Greensboro. Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately.
2:20 p.m. — A Tornado Warning has been issued for Tuscaloosa County and the University of Alabama campus until 3 p.m. The storm is approaching from U.S. Highway 69 and Moundville. The warning includes the entire city of Tuscaloosa. Other locations included in the warning are: Coaling, University Mall, McFarland Mall, Shelton State Community College, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Englewood, Little Sandy, Maxwell, Taylorville, Hull, Mound State Park, Stillman College, Duncanville and Palmore Park.
2:35 p.m. — Damage has been reported on the Hale and Tuscaloosa county line near Moundville. One storm spotter report showed roof damage just off of Highway 69 S. Police are currently on scene. A storm damage report filed with the NOAA Storm Prediction Center confirms the roof damage on both sides of the county line, with several businesses damaged in Moundville.
2:45 p.m. — NWS has confirmed a "large and extremely dangerous tornado" was spotted near the Shelton State campus roughly nine miles south of Tuscaloosa, moving northeast at 30 mph. The Tornado Warning for south central Tuscaloosa County remains in effect.
TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa County and the rest of west Alabama can expect strong thunderstorms to roll in this afternoon and through the evening hours, bringing the potential to spawn tornadoes, strong winds, damaging hail and flooding.
https://patch.com/alabama/tuscaloosa/live-updates-tuscaloosa-placed-under-high-risk-tornadoes