West Alabama Thursday Briefing

Good morning, West Alabama! It is Thursday August 15, 2024.

As expected, the new U.S. Drought Monitor Map reveals the Moderate Drought area of West Alabama has expanded as scattered showers over the last week or so have done nothing to increase soil moisture levels (10%).

All of Fayette County along with most of Pickens, Lamar and Walker counties in West Alabama are in the area of Moderate Drought which causes drops in water levels, damages crops, can trigger outdoor fire bans and increases wildfire activity.

Most of the rest of Pickens, northern Tuscaloosa and southeast Walker are Abnormally Dry. This means the ground hardens, forage crops and pasture are stressed; producers feed livestock early and Agriculture ponds and creeks begin to decline.

It is the beginning of the fall wildfire season in Alabama and currently the dry conditions have helped eight wildfires to develop in the state. Two of the fires are in West Alabama. One is a 20-acre fire near Moundville in northern Hale County and a 15-acre blaze in northwest Walker County, just west of Jasper.

We could get some help from scattered showers and thunderstorms tomorrow and Saturday. There is a Marginal Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms and high winds from Tuscaloosa northward Friday and across the entire area Saturday.

The Forecast:

Today

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. South wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night

Get our free mobile app

Topping the News:

Northport has recorded Tuscaloosa County’s 23^rd homicide of the year. It came earlier this morning in the 3700 block of 17^th Street where one man was killed. The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit is investigating and is expected to release more information later today.

This incident places Tuscaloosa County three homicides away from matching the all-time record of 26 set in 1975 and 2006.

18-year-old Elijah Rogers and 18-year-old Barthonia Howard were taken into custody by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit earlier this week and charged with murder and attempted murder in the Macon County town of Notasulga. The pair are charged with the murder of a 16-year-old and wounding of a 17-year-old. Rogers and Howard will be tried as adults.

Ground has been broken on the HILLHOUSE Residences between the now-modernized Northriver Yacht Club Marina and Captain’s Club store. The ceremony was attended by developers Andy Turner and Miller Mobley, Tuscaloosa City Councilman Norman Crow, real estate agents and future tenants.

Only six units remain.

During its Wednesday meeting the Tuscaloosa County Commission approved $90,000 to match $450,000 in federal grant funds for a multi-use facility in Samantha. The federal portion of the money was secured by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-4th District).

Nonresidents will no longer be allowed to register to vote in any of Alabama’s 67 counties. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen told a press briefing Wednesday that more than 3-thousand persons who registered to vote using a federal non-citizen identification number have been removed from the voter list.

In a press release, Allen stated, “This is not a one-time review of our voter file. We will continue to conduct such reviews to do everything possible to make sure that everyone on our file is an eligible voter.”

The last day to register to vote in Alabama is October 21^st.

Topping Sports News:

Stillman College Athletics celebrated a stellar academic year in 2023-2024, achieving a departmental GPA of 3.18.

Athletic Director Terrance Whittle announced that 61% of student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 GPA, with 92 students making the honor roll and 25 achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA. At the end of the spring semester, 29 student-athletes graduated, representing 30% of the graduating class, including several with honors.

UA Athletics Director Greg Byrne addressed the status of the new arena planned at UA on last night's season premiere of "Hey Coach". He confirmed the new basketball arena is for competition only and would not replace Coleman Coliseum and the practice facilities.

Click TuscaloosaThread.com throughout the day for the latest on West Alabama news, sports and weather.

Have a blessed Thursday!