Massive storm system bringing threat of tornadoes, flooding to Alabama on Wednesday
The National Weather Service has issued a severe storm warning for Central Alabama on Wednesday through early Thursday, with damaging winds, tornadoes, and flooding all possible.
In Montgomery, the threat of severe weather comes two weeks after an EF-2 tornado killed a woman and her 8-year-old son and heavily damaged their community of Flatwood, just north of Montgomery. The tornado, which touched down at 3 a.m., brought winds estimated at 115 miles per hour, according to the NWS.
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As with that Nov. 30 system, Wednesday's storm is expected to be at its strongest overnight, said Nathan Owen, a meteorologist with the NWS. He recommends Central Alabama residents turn on weather alerts before they go to bed.
“Especially if people are going to sleep, make sure you have something that will wake you up," Owen said.
The storm is part of a massive and damaging system rolling east across the Central and Southern United States.
A powerful storm is bringing widespread impacts to the Central and Southern US today/tomorrow. Heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and ice to the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Severe thunderstorms/tornadoes, and excessive rainfall which may lead to flooding from east TX to FL. pic.twitter.com/HvNmyTEGQt
— National Weather Service (@NWS) December 13, 2022
Owen also said that anyone with friends or family visiting should make sure guests know where to find the safest spots in the house.
“It’s common for this time of year. We’ve got people from out of town people visiting family they may not know where the safe locations are,” Owen said. He later added, “Just help make sure they know what to do during these weather cases.”
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The storm could move to the Mobile area or toward Selma or Troy. But there is still a real chance that Montgomery will see a tornado or damaging winds, Owen said.
“I would say there's the chance for Montgomery to see a brief tornado or two at some point," Owen said.
Alex Gladden is the public safety reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Massive storm system bringing threat of tornadoes, flooding to Alabama
