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According to the Chambers County 911 & EMA, a severe weather event will take place on Saturday night into Sunday morning. All of Alabama is in an enhanced risk status.

Large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes are possible during the weather event. Based on reporting from James Spann, a few strong tornadoes (EF-2 or higher) may occur.

The storms should move out of the area by Sunday morning.

The rain and storms began on Thursday and are expected to last through daybreak Sunday morning, with Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning being the highest risk of threats.

The time frame for Chambers County, according to Chambers County EMA, is from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. ET.

Long track tornadoes, localized flooding, damaging wind up to 70 mph and hail ranging from dime to golf-ball size are all possible threats.

Weather emergency services recommend households to have a NOAA Weather Radio at times of severe weather like this. Wireless Emergency Alerts should also be enabled on your phone.

The National Weather Service and Emergency Management Agencies highly recommend that any plans, especially for outdoors, scheduled for Saturday be canceled.

The Chambers County EMA also warned the community to expect downed trees, power outages and damage to structures.

With the threats for Saturday, the EMA urged residents to prepare ahead of time for all eventualities.

In the release, the EMA said: “Today is a marginal risk but the storms thus far in other counties are fairly significant and are producing damaging winds and large hail, so a severe thunderstorm warning could be issued today as the storms come through our county. The timing for today is 12pm – 8pm Eastern time.”

As for Friday, the marginal risk area for severe threats is reduced to a small sector of the NW corner of the county.

The EMA urged residents to prepare by identifying a safe place to go if a warning is issued on Saturday.

Gather flashlights, fresh batteries, battery-operated lamps or candles, a radio, fully charged electronic devices, a whistle in case you are stuck somewhere and hard hats to protect your head from falling debris.

Other important supplies to have on hand are water, non-refrigerated food and weather-appropriate clothing.

Don’t forget to secure loose items outside that could get picked up by the wind and find a safe shelter for outdoor animals.

Storm Shelters

4 TThe Abanda Community Shelter is a FEMA designated shelter located at 1077 County Rd 139 Wadley, AL. Please call dispatch at 334-576-0914 to find out if/when the shelter is open.

4 The Waverly Community Shelter is a FEMA designated shelter located at 2094 Patrick St. Waverly, AL. Please call Waverly Town Hall at 334-887-0999 regarding that shelters opening/closing.

4 Southern Union’s Opelika campus is part of the State Storm Shelters (301 Lake Condy Rd, Opelika, AL 36801). Call Lee Co EMA for the opening and closing of that shelter (334) 749-8161. They open AFTER a WATCH has been issued.

4 Town of Five Points Storm Shelter will open at 6pm tonight and remain open for the duration of all 3 storm rounds – 10180 Co Rd 222, Five Points, AL 36855. More information provided below – contact Mayor Monroe 256-872-1113

4 For Valley and Lanett citizens, the Opelika Southern Union would be closest but you can go to any storm shelter. It is recommended you go after a watch has been issued but before a warning is issued.

IF YOU LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME

Utilize one of the shelters listed above or check with your local or neighboring church, neighbors, or relatives and see if you can stay there until the storm is over as your safer place, or business open 24/7 that can serve as a shelter.

Always choose locations within a home that are away from doors and windows and are not an outside wall — like interior closets, bathtubs, bathrooms, basements, etc.