Tornado Watches Issued in Alabama

The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches covering most of the state. One watch set to expire at 1 a.m. Friday includes Bibb, Dallas, Tuscaloosa Counties and others. Another watch set to expire at 3 a.m. includes Cullman, Etowah, Jefferson, Limestone and Montgomery counties, among others. A storm system moving eastward out of Mississippi will mean a threat of strong storms beginning in central Alabama Thursday night. The National Weather Service says chances are greatest northwest of a line extending roughly from Selma to Anniston. Forecasters have said the weather system could produce tornadoes, flooding, hail and damaging winds. A wind advisory throughout most of the state is expected to expire around midnight. Forecasters predict sustained winds of 20-25 mph, with the possibility of gusts up to 35 mph.