The National Weather Service (NWS) in Birmingham much of west Alabama under an enhanced risk for dangerous weather as storms are expected to move into the state later on Thursday.
An enhanced risk includes “strong tornadoes, damaging winds up to 70 mph, and golf ball sized hail,” according to NWS.
The timing of the severe weather threat for Walker County extends from noon on Thursday until 8 p.m.
In preparation for the weather event, Walker County Schools and Jasper City Schools both declared Thursday an E-Day for students. Bevill State Community College announced they will close at 11 a.m. and Sumiton Christian School will close at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
WBRC First Alert Meteorologist Matt Daniel said that the Storm Prediction Center also has counties in the western half of the state in an enhanced risk.
“Areas in the enhanced risk could see damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, tornadoes, and large hail the size of quarters,” he said on WBRC.com on Thursday.
There are seventeen operational storm shelters across Walker County.
Argo 6582 Hwy 78, Cordova Boldo/Union Chapel 6640 Old Birmingham Hwy, Jasper Carbon Hill 240 NW 9th Ave, Carbon Hill Cordova 300 School Rd. Cordova
59 E. Columbus St. CordovaCopeland Ferry 19154 Hwy 269, Quinton Eldridge 224 Smothers Ave, Eldridge McCollum Midway 16753 Hwy 69, Jasper Oakman 63 School St., Oakman Parrish 1315 Main Dr., Parrish Pineywoods 111 Pineywoods-Sipsey Rd., Jasper Saragossa 2426 Saragoss Rd., Nauvoo
356 Redmill-Saragossa Rd., JasperThach 1220 Thach Loop, Jasper Kansas 165 North School St., Kansas Nauvoo 647 4th Ave., Nauvoo Sipsey 185 Park Rd., Sipsey Townley 2875 Wire Rd., Townley
6848 Holly Grove Rd., JasperTutwiler 6326 Tutwiler Rd., Oakman
Be sure to have a way to receive weather warnings, not including outdoor sirens. The NWS recommends a NOAA weather radio.
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