West Alabama Thursday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama!! It is Thursday, April 3, 2025. This is the 93rd day of the year with 272 days remaining.

Thursday Morning Observations:

A major severe weather outbreak is underway with potentially catastrophic flooding, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes across the midsouth since yesterday and it continues this morning.

Dozens of tornadoes and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued Wednesday in parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Mississippi as storms hit those and other states in the evening. Numerous possible twisters were reported in the South overnight, particularly in Tennessee and Kentucky. So far two fatalities and dozens of injuries have been reported.

The current outbreak has taken my memories back to April 3, 1974. That is when a powerful, fast-moving, 79.5-mile long track F-5 tornado devastated the Town of Guin. It was part of a two-day "Super Tornado Outbreak" regarded as one of the most intense tornado outbreaks on record at that time.

That tornado in Guin is what ABC3340 Chief Meteorologist James Spann credits with beginning his interest in meteorology and his eventual award-winning career.

Guin was James' first response to tornado devastation as an amateur radio emergency communications operator. It was also my first disaster response as a Tuscaloosa County Civil Defense (now Emergency Management) volunteer.

The twister slammed through Guin right before dark, during the dinner hour for many. Because weather radar was in its infancy and NOAA Weather Radio didn't then exist few learned on the monster storms approach. 23 lives were lost in Guin alone, 86 statewide.

The destruction and suffering had a direct impact on James and me. It led him to his impressive career as a TV meteorologist and me eventually to a 29-year duty as an emergency manager at the local and state level.

James and I have seen far too many preventable deaths and injuries from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms over the years since April 3, 1974. It is why we both have spent so much of our lives attempting to tell people that there are precautions they can take to survive severe weather.

Far too many people to this very day, despite lightyears in advancements in warning technology, still take a fatalistic approach to severe weather or just plain attempt to ignore it. Often those people and loved ones pay the price for not being prepared.

We are in the first month of the three-month primary severe weather season in Alabama. There is the potential for strong to severe storms, including tornadoes this weekend. Do what you should to be prepared, it could save you live and the lives those you care about.

Click on the links below to learn about severe weather preparedness:

Make sure you have a way to receive watches and warnings, especially overnight and as James says, "Respect the polygon".

(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.)

Weather:

Hot weather today through the weekend will be highlighted for severe weather risks Saturday and Sunday, then frost next week. That will give you weather whiplash!

A sliver of extreme West Alabama could experience some of the severe weather outbreak going on to our west, mainly lightning and wind today and tomorrow.

Saturday, there is a Slight (2 in 5) Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms west of a line from Tuscaloosa to Demopolis. Lightning will be a major threat.

Sunday, there is a Slight (2 in 5) Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms. All modes of severe weather will be possible, including tornadoes.

Read More: Severe Storms Expected Across Alabama: Tornadoes, Strong Winds, Hail

The Forecast:

Today

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 91. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight

Increasing clouds, with a low around 71. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday

Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night

Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

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News:

Another Plea Deal in 2023 Tony Mitchell Walker County Jail Death

There is more fallout in the aftermath of the 2023 Walker County Jail death of inmate Tony Mitchell. 55-year-old Walker County Deputy Carl Lofton Carpenter has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of deprivation of rights. The plea is one of 10 by other jail personnel resulting from what has been referred to as a culture of abuse at the jail.

West Alabama Counties Receive USDA Drought Declaration

Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, and Sumter are primary counties while Bibb, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties are contiguous counties to a USDA Drought Declaration. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor continues to show Abnormally Dry and Moderate Drought conditions in West Alabama.

The extended dry soils have reduced crop yields and livestock productivity. Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate says irrigation could reduce negative drought impacts but Alabama farmers have been resistant.

Farmers in eligible counties have eight months to apply for emergency loans.

Tuscaloosa County Homeless Students Receive County Commissioner's Help

A $40,000 allocation from District 3 Tuscaloosa County Commissioner Mark Nelson will help 164 homeless families with students in the Tuscaloosa County School System. A federally mandated but not federally funded act assists with transportation costs and other essential needs for students without stable housing.

Man Sentenced for Cyber-Stalking and Threats Against Ex-Girlfriend

27-year-old Kenneth Peter Hoover has been sentenced to 37 months in prison for threatening and cyberstalking his ex-girlfriend. He had pleaded guilty in November. Tuscaloosa Police contacted the victim and secured safe housing for her. A few days later, a Tuscaloosa Police officer conducted a traffic stop on Hoover and arrested him.

No Hope for Parole in Murder Sentence

31-year-old Jeremy Lynn Colvin was sentenced Wednesday to serve life in prison with no possibility of parole for the death of 21-year-old Venson Lamont Barnes. He was also received three life sentences for the attempted murder of three men who were shot inside a Pickens County residence

Druid City Arts Festival Runs Tomorrow Thru Saturday

The free two-day Druid City Arts Festival begins at 5:00pm Friday. The event highlights local artists and musicians and will run from 5:00pm until 9:00pm Friday, and again Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa.

Read More: City of Tuscaloosa to Host 16th Annual Druid City Arts Festival

Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama to Honor Volunteers

Volunteers are the life blood of Tuscaloosa and any other community in West Alabama. In recognition of that, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s Nonprofit Council is hosting the Nonprofit Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, presented by Nece Floral Designs and United Way of West Alabama, on Thursday, April 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will take place at The Link, 6110 Watermelon Rd in Northport.

Read More: Chamber to Host Nonprofit Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.

Sports:

UA Hosting NCAA Gymnastics Regional

For the 17^th time the University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa are hosting an NCAA Gymnastics Regional today through Sunday. Florida, California, Oregon State, Clemson, Iowa, North Carolina, NC State and Rutgers will join the Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum.

Clemson and Rutgers will compete on this afternoon starting at 2:00pm, for the opportunity to be in the second of two four-team sessions tomorrow.

The first session on Friday, gets underway way at 1:00pm. It will feature Alabama, Cal, Iowa and North Carolina. The second session Friday starts at 7 pm and will feature Florida, NC State, Oregon State and the winner of today's Clemson and Rutgers match.

Following a recovery day on Saturday, the top two teams from each of Friday's sessions will meet for the regional final on Sunday, at 5 p.m., with the top two teams advancing to the national championships.

Individual all-around and event specialists from Ball State, Central Michigan, Clemson, New Hampshire, Northern Illinois, Rutgers, Southeast Missouri State and Western Michigan will also compete for a chance to advance to nationals.

Alabama has competed in the regional round of the NCAA Championships every year since its inception in 1982, outside of the 2020 postseason cancelation due to COVID-19.

Stillman Softball on a Win Streak

The Regular Season HBCUAC Champion Stillman Softball Team is having a banner year. The Tigers are 25-7 overall and are undefeated at 12-0 in conference play. They have not lost since February 24th when they dropped a 3-2 decision to the University of Mobile on the road. That is a 16-game win streak.

The Tigers were to play United States Sports Academy for a doubleheader today in Daphne but those games were cancelled. Stillman will travel to Huntsville for a doubleheader tomorrow and single game Saturday against Oakwood in a conference series.

Atlanta Stumbles out of the Box

The Atlanta Braves have helped San Diego to a 7-0 start to the season and Los Angeles to a franchise record 8-0 since MLB Opening Day last week. The Braves are 0-7.

It looked like Atlanta might pick up their first win in LA last night after leading 5-0 going into the 3rd inning. But Braves pitching could not hold it together. Atlanta loaded the bases twice but couldn't get the key hit to push across another score or two.

The Braves return to Atlanta for their home opener against the Marlins tomorrow night at 6:15pm CDT.

Click Tide100.9 for the latest sports news.

Enjoy your Thursday!