Birmingham, AL – Alabama school systems are releasing students early because of the threat of severe weather.
Officials said schools were shutting down early Friday in Autauga, Cullman, Elmore, Franklin and Shelby counties because of the possibility of tornadoes and damaging winds, and more systems could decide to do the same.
Meanwhile, racing promoters are monitoring conditions at the Talladega Superspeedway, where thousands of people are camping and getting ready for three days of stock car races. The first race is scheduled for around the time a large line of storms could move into east Alabama.
The National Weather Service issued a watch for more than half the state, and tornado warnings are coming out as possible twisters move into Alabama.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)