The South braces for tornado outbreak

By Meg Wagner, Judson Jones and Melissa Macaya, CNN

Updated 9:57 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021
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6:43 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

Rescue efforts continue in Alabama's Shelby County as another storm approaches

From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch

A firefighter walks past a destroyed home in the Eagle Point community of Birmingham, Alabama, on March 25.
A firefighter walks past a destroyed home in the Eagle Point community of Birmingham, Alabama, on March 25. Butch Dill/AP

Rescue efforts continue in Shelby County, Alabama, as the community braces for another storm to pass through the area, the sheriff’s office said in a tweet.

“Shelby County, we are still in a rescue response in North Shelby County with reports of another storm capable of producing tornadoes heading toward South and West Shelby County. Please continue to monitor weather reports and take appropriate safety precautions," the sheriff's office said.

The county has set up a family reunification location for those in the Eagle Point subdivision in the parking lot of Baumhowers, the sheriff's office tweeted.

Earlier today: Cahaba Valley Fire Capt. Grant Wilkerson told the AL.com they have had to extract people trapped in their homes in Eagle Point.

An exact number of injuries or the extent is not known at this time.

Eagle Point is a subdivision in the Birmingham area of Shelby County and homes there are multiple reports of damage there.

6:37 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

A long-track intense to potentially violent tornado is expected to continue across Alabama

An intense tornadic storm located in Alabama will likely remain unimpeded as it moves to the east-northeast, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

"A corridor for a long track intense to potentially violent tornado is expected to maximize through the next hour across central Alabama," the SPC said.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado emergency with this storm as the storm has been seen on radar and confirmed by spotters.

8:08 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

At least 5 people dead in Calhoun County, Alabama, following storm, sheriff says 

From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch

Butch Dill/AP
Butch Dill/AP

At least five people have died in Calhoun County, Alabama, today from storms that passed through the area, Sheriff Matthew Wade told CNN.

Calhoun County includes Ohatchee which CNN reported earlier had multiple fatalities and injuries. Search and rescue efforts are underway in Ohatchee.

6:13 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

Alabama governor urges residents to remain alert amid deadly tornadoes

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey released a statement Thursday evening urging residents in the path of dangerous weather to "remain on high alert."

"Tragically, we are receiving reports of loss of life," Ivey said in the statement. "I offer my sincerest prayers to all impacted."

Earlier today: There are reports of multiple fatalities and injuries after a tornado passed through Ohatchee, Alabama, this afternoon, Tiffany DeBoer, a spokesperson for Calhoun County Emergency Management, told CNN.

5:37 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

Alabama police officer transported to hospital after lightning strike

From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch

A Florence, Alabama, police officer is being monitored at a local hospital after being struck by lightning, the department tweeted Thursday.

The officer was putting out barricades at an intersection when he was struck.

Officers on scene provided first aid and he was conscious and responsive at the time.

Florence is 133 miles north of Birmingham in Lauderdale County, which is part of the state that is under severe weather warnings.

Read the tweet:

5:29 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

Reports of multiple fatalities and injuries in Alabama after storm passes through

From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch

There are reports of multiple fatalities and injuries after a tornado passed through Ohatchee, Alabama, this afternoon, spokesperson for Calhoun County Emergency Management Tiffany DeBoer told CNN.

DeBoer could not say on how many people have died.

She added that search and rescue efforts continue in the city.

 

5:27 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

A new tornado watch issued for 6 states

A new tornado watch goes until 11 a.m. CDT and includes Paducah, Evansville, Louisville, and Nashville. 

"There are not a lot of storms yet, but rapid development is expected in the next few hours," says CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen. 

Primary threats include...

  • A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes likely
  • Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts up to 75 mph likely
  • Scattered large hail likely with isolated very large hail event up to 2 inches in diameter possible

5:22 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

Gym in Alabama sustains damage following tornado

From CNN's Christina Zdanowicz

Corefit Strong, a gym in Pelham, Alabama, sustained damage after a tornado swept through town on Thursday afternoon.

“The roof was lifted off, bricks were thrown through the windows of our garage doors, debris tossed inside the gym, our HVAC unit was ripped off our roof, glass thrown throughout the gym, our flooring is destroyed, along with other roof and structural damage to other parts of the building,” Corefit trainer Alex McNair told CNN. “But the most important thing is no one was hurt. The only thing damaged was material objects which can be replaced."

The gym will be closed until it is inspected by structural engineers, McNair said.

5:13 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021

More than 55 million people remain under severe storm threat from Pennsylvania to the Gulf Coast

From CNN's Dave Hennen

Residents survey damage to homes after a tornado touched down south of Birmingham, Alabama, in the Eagle Point community damaging multiple homes on March 25.
Residents survey damage to homes after a tornado touched down south of Birmingham, Alabama, in the Eagle Point community damaging multiple homes on March 25. Butch Dill/AP

There are more than 55 million people who remain under threat for severe storms from Pennsylvania to the Gulf Coast as tornadic storms will continue well into the evening.

A level 5 of 5 “high risk” continues for much of northern Alabama, into southern Tennessee, including Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville.

A large level 4 of 5 risk covers more than 5 million people and includes Nashville and Chattanooga, where tornadoes are also possible.

More on the storms:

  • There have been seven tornado reports so far, all in Alabama, with damage and injuries reported in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
  • The same long track supercell thunderstorm continues to track east, and is now moving into Georgia, where tornado warnings remain in effect.
  • Other tornadic storms are moving into western Alabama out of Mississippi
  • A PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) tornado watch remains in effect over portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia until 8 p.m. CT.
  • A new tornado watch has just been issued that includes the cities of Nashville, Evansville and Louisville, until 11 p.m. CT.