Tornado Threat Looms Large in Storm-Rattled Midwest and South (Active Warnings!)

[onehandle]

Source: ABC

Stronger twisters and extreme weather are expected today to again hit the areas of the Midwest and South rattled earlier this week by 33 confirmed tornadoes that left 13 people dead.

A large area of the country stretching from the Ohio Valley into the deep South was currently under threat of severe weather early this morning. Thursday was a relatively quiet day for severe weather in the area, with only eight reports of damaging winds and/or severe hail, all reported in parts of Alabama and Georgia.

Though it was relatively quiet overnight, the first storms could pop up around daybreak in the St. Louis area, according to Rich Thompson, lead forecaster with the National Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.

The National Weather Service has indicated a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms for the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. These storms are be capable of producing winds of 75 miles per hour, large hail and long-lived significant tornadoes, according to the NWS.



Read more: http://gma.yahoo.com/tornado-threat-looms-large-storm-rattled-midwest-south-092133199--abc-news.html

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This is all over the news today. If you are in these areas, pay attention and prepare.

[northoftheborder]

1. NE Alabama, tornado warning NOW. All moving northeast. keep weather station on all day.

[BadgerKid]

2. Two tornado signatures in north AL

One north of Decatur AL and one north of Huntsville AL. One of these has had a sighted tornado about 20 minutes ago.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Tornadoes moving out of AL into Franklin Co. TN.

Apparently one went through Meridianville, no damage report yet.

Following local TV.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. First AP reports coming in ... Tornado wrecks homes in Ala.; no word if injuries

(AP) – 3 minutes ago
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A reported tornado destroyed several houses in northern Alabama as storms crossed the region Friday, emergency management officials said.

There was no immediate word on any injuries. But the Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Office says ambulances are responding to neighborhoods near Huntsville.

Madison County emergency managers said in a statement that several houses were "leveled" in one neighborhood in the Walker Lane area.

Thousands of Alabama schoolchildren were getting out of class early Friday because the threat of tornadoes and other severe weather across the northern half of the state.

More than 20 school systems say they are dismissing classes early Friday because of the possibility of severe storms. Otherwise, the bad weather could hit around the time schools normally dismiss for the day, based on predictions from the National Weather Service.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jcPiv5bumr673UkJBkViTjgAiz8g?docId=f769ca78172f4070bae06e68bd390e37

[SharonAnn]

5. Here in East TN, we're watching the rotation activity a little west of us. It'll be here

in the next 30 - 60 minutes.

I hate for this to happen again. The storms here last year were incredible, I lost several trees, lots of neighbors a quarter-mile from me had severe hail damage (I mean SEVERE), though my house and I emerged unscathed.

Thunder going on now and my cat is walking around me, growling. First time I've ever heard her do that.

[SharonAnn]

6. Woops, just got an official Tornado Warning. I'm in the lowest level, underground

against the wall. In other words, I'm in my office.

Watching cable TV warnings.

Hope we're lucky and hope that Internet stays up!

[SharonAnn]

7. My cat is now hunkered down on my lap and won't move. That's not normal

for her.

She's not a lap cat nor does she like to snuggle. But she's uneasy about something, I assume it's the weather (pressure changes, sounds of wind and rain) though I don't think she understands the Tornado Warnings being broadcast on the TV.

Just really uneasy and she's very clinging.

[Roland99]

8. Jim Cantore is down at the waterfront in Louisville, striking up fear

has my Mom all rattled.


I think it's great they're able to detect the potential but the fear-mongering goes too far sometimes. I remember they closed schools up there one day due to the potential. It never even rained that day.

[Myrina]

12. Agreed.

Here in Indy we even had our company's "Emergency Response Teams" all revved up and patrolling the buildings in anticipation of what turned out to be 5 minutes of downpour and 2 minutes of hail.

Everyone's obsessed with the 'next big disaster' rather than the ongoing disaster that is what's left of our day-to-day social fabric.


Sigh.

[RebelOne]

9. I am in North Georgia, just northwest of Atlanta.

These storms are expected to hit in the middle of the night. I guess I won't go to bed and just sit up and watch the weather reports on TV. Of course, I will freak out if I hear the tornado sirens. I live in a moble home and have nowhere to run.

[bathroommonkey76]

11. Your best bet would be to head to a bar untill the storms pass.

We are expecting these storms to hit my area of North Carolina in the morning.

Stay safe.

[bathroommonkey76]

10. The local affiliate WHNT in Huntsville and East Tn was just on Headline News.

They aren't streaming online right now, but the damage they are reporting appears to be extensive.

Tornadoes Damage Limestone, Madison Counties; More Storms Expected This Afternoon & Evening

http://www.whnt.com/weather/closings/whnt-tornado-damage-reported-in-limestone-madison-counties-threat-still-active-20120302,0,6451250.story

[bathroommonkey76]

13. Here are some videos posted via youtube from the Alabama tornadoes today.

Athens AL, Large Strong Tornado on March 2nd 2012

Wedge Tornado - Harvest, Alabama - March 2, 2012

Harvest Alabama Tornado Damage Homevideo, March 2nd, 2012