Region under tornado watch; city, county offices close early
Montgomery closed city and county government offices Tuesday afternoon and rescheduled a planned City Council meeting as the area braced for severe weather.
Most of Central Alabama remains under a tornado watch through Tuesday late afternoon and evening as a series of strong to severe thunderstorms rumble through the region.
Counties east of Interstate 65 have been added to the Tornado Watch, valid through 8 pm this evening. Counties along and west of Interstate 65 continue through 5 pm. This is for ROUND ONE of storms. We will clear west to east as the initial round clears. pic.twitter.com/tCdmOO8f87
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 3, 2023
The Montgomery area is under an 'enhanced' threat of severe weather, including tornadoes, powerful straight-line winds, large hail and torrential rainfall, according to the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. The heavy rains also pose a flash flooding risk through the region. The enhanced level is a level three out of five category, with five being the greatest risk of severe weather.
"After consulting with Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton, Montgomery-City County Emergency Management Director Christina Thornton and local weather experts, Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed has declared all City offices will close at 2 p.m. today (Jan. 3, 2023) due to the potential for significant severe weather events," stated a release from Reed's office.
The Montgomery City-County Emergency Management Agency has opened their Safer Places Shelter at 3446 LeBron Road. A Montgomery City Council meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday night will be 5 p.m. on Jan. 10.
Just before 2 p.m., the National Weather Service in Birmingham confirmed a radar-indicated tornado near Deatsville.
Autauga County will be under a tornado watch until 5 p.m. Elmore and Montgomery counties are under a tornado watch until 9 p.m.
Forecasts call for a series of thunderstorms to move through the area until later tonight, so it won’t simply dissipate after a line of storms come through. Stay alert to weather warnings and seek shelter as threatening weather warrants.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Region under tornado watch; city, county offices close early
