Severe Storms Move Into Alabama
The National Weather Service in Birmingham says waves of severe storms are expected across north and central Alabama through Wednesday. Strong winds and tornadoes are on the minds of many in the south; this past weekend marked the three-year anniversary of the 2011 tornados that ripped through Alabama.
Meteorologist Jim Stephvokitch says residents should have other concerns in mind as well. “We don’t want people to just focus on tornado warnings we have the potential for all modes of severe weather. That includes straight line winds, 60 to 80 mile an hour tornados, large hail, and flash flooding.”
The entire state is under a flash flood watch with as much as 5 inches of rain in the forecast.Schools around north central Alabama are releasing students early today. Forecasters are predicting strong thunderstorms across the South, with the possibility of hail and tornadoes.
Early closings and cancellations include:
Birmingham City — Closing at 1 p.m.
Jefferson County — Closing at 1 p.m.
Hoover — Closing 2 hours early, no after school activities
Homewood — All after school activities and extended day programs have been cancelled
Shelby County — Closing at 1 p.m.
Gadsden State Community College (all campuses) — Closing at 1:30 p.m.
Additionally, classes and normal campus operations at The University of Alabama at Birmingham will be suspended at 5 pm today, April 28. Normal operations are planned for Tuesday, April 29.
MAX bus service has been suspended after 4 p.m.
You can find additional closing information here.
The all-female free divers of Jeju island have a ‘superpower’ in their genes
The all-female Korean Haenyeo divers show genetic adaptations to cold water diving involving their blood pressure and cold tolerance. "It's like a superpower," says one of the researchers.
Dozens are killed in overnight airstrikes on southern Gaza city, hospital says
It was the second night of heavy bombing, after airstrikes Wednesday on northern and southern Gaza killed dozens of people, including almost two dozen children.
Marine life’s latest hotspot could be an underwater volcano primed to erupt off Oregon
A researcher monitoring Axial Seamount, 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, says the eruption is expected to happen before the year is over.
Majority of Americans oppose ending birthright citizenship, NPR/Ipsos poll finds
As the Supreme Court takes up birthright citizenship, a new poll finds that less than a third of Americans want it to end. But other parts of the White House's immigration crackdown are more popular.
A Texas abortion ban sponsor aims to clarify when doctors can do the procedure
Since abortion became almost entirely illegal in Texas in 2021, the state has seen a significant rise in the number of women who die in pregnancy or after giving birth. A new bill aims to change that.
Under attack, public media makes its case to Congress and the courts
Nearly 200 officials from public radio stations across the country are descending on Capitol Hill to seek to convince lawmakers to maintain funding for public broadcasting despite President Trump's campaign against it.