As Nate Weakens, Expect Heavy Rain and Wind
Nate has quickly weakened to a tropical depression. The Birmingham metro area can expect torrential rains and strong winds to continue moving in Sunday. Wind advisories are in effect for all of Central Alabama through 10 pm Sunday. The latest forecasts have lowered sustained wind speeds to 20-35 mph, with wind gusts of 35-45 mph.
Isolated tornadoes are still possible mainly south and east of Birmingham up through Anniston. Those areas are also expected to get the most rainfall through Monday at 4-5 inches.
But weather officials warn that even with a weakened storm, it doesn’t take much to bring down trees. There are reports of multiple trees down in Tallapoosa and Clay counties.
High winds also trigger power outages. As of 10 am, 82,000 Alabama Power customers were without service.
Chilton County reported the highest wind gusts Sunday morning: 46 mph; the Troy and Shelby County airports had 38 mph wind gusts.
President Donald Trump Sunday morning approved an emergency declaration for the State of Alabama. The request came from Gov. Kay Ivey. The move authorizes federal assistance to supplement the state’s efforts in connection with Tropical Storm Nate’s impacts. Emergency protective measures will be provided at 75 percent federal funding at the discretion of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
This assistance would include these counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Coosa, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Washington, and Wilcox and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
The City of Orange Beach reports al major roads are clear and open. There have been trees downed and piers damaged there, but the city expects businesses to be open and operating as usual by noon.
Postal traffic to US drops more than 80% after trade exemption rule ends, UN agency says
The de minimis rule that allowed small packages worth less than $800 to be exempt from tariffs ended on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.
Colombia’s lone Amazon port faces drying river and rising tensions with Peru
Colombia's only Amazon port town could soon be cut off from the river that keeps it alive. As drought and a shifting river spark a tense border dispute with Peru, locals are scrambling to adapt—and politicians are raising flags, literally.
Sunday Puzzle: Common denominator
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Weekend Edition puzzlemaster Will Shortz along with listener Cynthia Rose of Littleton, Colorado.
South Korea says it has reached a deal with the US for the release of workers in a Georgia plant
More than 300 South Korean workers were detained in an immigration raid on Thursday. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said South Korea plans to send a charter plane to bring the workers home.
Hitch a ride to the moon in a rusty old car and ‘The Couch in the Yard’
As the sun sets in a small town, a family loads up their rusty old car with the spare couch in their yard. When it breaks down in the mountains, what else is there to do but fly it to the moon?
The silent killer increases your risk of stroke and dementia. Here’s how to control it
New recommendations for early treatment for hypertension to prevent strokes, heart attacks and dementia come as an experimental medication is shown to lower blood pressure in hard to treat patients.