West Alabama Monday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama! It is Monday, March 31, 2025, the last day of March. This is the 90th day of the year with 275 days remaining.

Monday Morning Observations:

This has been an Operation Storm Watch Day across West Alabama. However, the threat risk for most of West Alabama has now ended according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

An area of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across West Alabama bringing high wind gust of 50mph, hail, lightning and potential for a couple of tornadoes.

Earlier this morning, thunderstorms containing tornado signatures on radar sparked tornado warnings in Lamar and Fayette counties. There was a debris signature with the tornado as it passed through Lamar County, but no significant damage reported.

Another threat for severe storms may develop Wednesday night through Thursday morning for the northwest portions of Central Alabama. There is currently a Slight (2 to 3 in 5) Risk for those areas.

(Opinions Expressed in Morning Observations are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

The Forecast:

Today

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday

Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Remainder of the Week

Shower chances each day and evening. Highs in the upper 80s, lows in the upper 60s to lower 70s.

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News:

Severe Weather Threat Prompts Tornado Warnings

Lamar and Fayette Counties spent time under tornado warnings earlier this morning. No significant damage was reported however, West Alabama remains under a Severe Thunderstorm weather threat through the remainder of the morning. All severe weather hazards will be possible: damaging winds, and large hail and a low-end tornado risk are possible.

School Delays Due to Severe Weather Threat

The severe weather threat to has prompted delays at most schools in West Alabama. Tuscaloosa City and County Schools, Hale County, Fayette County, Pickens, Greene, Walker, Bibb County schools are all operating on a2-hour delay this morning. Stillman College is also delaying classes unto 10:00am.

Propane Tanks Explode in Bibb County

Propane tanks exploded in Centreville yesterday at the AmeriGas Company. The Brent Volunteer Fire Department responded to the incident. More than 100 propane tanks exploded in the fire, causing some tanks to be lofted across the facility's parking lot.

The preliminary investigation reveals that a worker was removing residual from a tank when the fire started. The worker quickly alerted employees on site, and the area was evacuated with no injuries reported.

Tuscaloosa Council District 1 Runoff Tomorrow

Tuscaloosa City Council District 1 incumbent Matthew Wilson faces Shelton State Administrator Jo Eatmon in a runoff election tomorrow. It is the only race on the ballot.

The polling place at the Tuscaloosa Department of Transportation facility (1120 28th Ave) opens at 7:00am and will close at 7:00pm. Be sure to bring property personal identification.

Cit political observers are predicting a small voter turnout.

ALEA has Spring Travel Advice

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Lt. Jeremy Burkett says it’s all the more important to be aware of your surroundings on the road and plan for potential construction or congestion while traveling.

“Plan your trip out, meaning, if you look at your Google maps or whatever you’re using to develop that plan for how long it’s going to take you to arrive at that destination and it says six hours, seven hours, extend that out,” he said.

Burkett says it’s also important to make sure you have road trip essentials in your car, like a spare tire.

“Understand what you need to do when you have some type of roadside emergency,” said Burkett.

Sports:

Tide Baseball Takes 2 of 3 From OU

The Alabama Team won its weekend three-game series with Oklahoma over the weekend. Bama secured the series with am 8-2 series capper win Sunday. The Tide is now 25-4 overall, 6-and-3 in the SEC.

Alabama returns to action Tuesday at The Joe in midweek action against Samford at 6 p.m. CCT.

Bama Softball Wins UGA Weekend Series

Alabama softball (25-13, 4-5 SEC) secured its first Southeastern Conference series win of the season with an 8-5 win in game three over Georgia (24-10, 5-7 SEC) Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.

The eight runs are Alabama's highest total in SEC play since scoring nine at Kentucky last season (March 29, 2024) and the 14 hits is its highest conference total since earning 14 on April 11, 2022, at Florida.

Bama hosts two visitors for a doubleheader tomorrow.