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| Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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Rain, rain and more rain expected
Published May 7, 2009
Jackson County was under three separate tornado warnings Wednesday morning with alert sirens sounding repeatedly in the City of Scottsboro but most areas apparently escaped virtually unharmed as a strong system of storms moved eastward across north Alabama during the day bringing with it heavy rainfall, gusty winds and dangerous lightning.
"The only reports of damage we have is two trees down on Langston Gap Road," Jackson County Emergency Management Agency Director Victor Manning said early Wednesday afternoon. "We have crews out checking other areas but we don't have any other reports."
A second system expected to affect the area between 3 and 6 p.m. forced both the Jackson County and Scottsboro City School systems to send students home early.
All Jackson County Schools closed at 2 p.m. Scottsboro City Schools closed one hour earlier than normal. Elementary school students were dismissed at 1:30 p.m., junior high students at 2 p.m. and Scottsboro High School closed at 2:15 p.m.
"We wanted to make sure we got our students home before the storms hit," Scottsboro Superintendent of Education Dr. Judy Berry said. "We understood, after talking with Victor Manning, that there was a high risk for moderate to severe storms between 3 and 6 p.m."
Manning confirmed that his office had been advised that there was a risk for severe weather Wednesday afternoon with the chance of isolated tornadoes.
Damage was reported across many parts of the state with suspected tornadoes in several areas and strong winds in many areas. In Madison County strong winds knocked felled trees and downed power lines in what some believed was a tornado. The National Weather Service had not confirmed what caused the destruction by Wednesday afternoon.
Strong winds, estimated at 70 MPH, knocked out power and damaged homes in Tuscaloosa County. A funnel cloud was reported near Hamilton in west Alabama but there were no reports of damage.
With the chance for showers continuing into the weekend Manning said his biggest concern was the possibility for flooding in some low-lying areas of the county.
"The potential for flooding exists. With rain on top of more rain and what we've had over the past few days the chance is there for flooding and flash flooding," Manning said.
The Paint Rock River is expected to crest today at 19 feet. Manning said that level would cause some roads to flood in the Paint Rock Valley. "If the crest goes to 20 or 21 feet we will begin to see some homes flooding."
A slight chance of showers does exist today and Friday. Rain chances increase to 50 percent on Saturday.
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