Severe Weather Threatens Most of Alabama on Saturday

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2020/01/image3-1.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:725;s:6:"height";i:544;s:4:"file";s:20:"2020/01/image3-1.png";s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"image3-1-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"image3-1-336x252.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"image3-1-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"image3-1-600x338.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"image3-1-300x300.png";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"image3-1-414x311.png";s:5:"width";i:414;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"image3-1-353x265.png";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"image3-1-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => National Weather Service in Birmingham
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1656417014 
1578665446

The National Weather Service expects severe weather to drench the South with heavy rains on Saturday.

John De Block of the National Weather Service in Birmingham says the storms, which are expected to be at their worst from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., threaten to spin off tornadoes.  

“One of our big concerns about this event is the fact that there’s so much wind energy with the storm,” he says. “Any thunderstorm that forms in Alabama tomorrow will be capable of producing winds up to 70 mph.”

De Block says tornadoes in January in Alabama are not uncommon and residents should take this warning seriously. The NWS is asking everyone in the warning area to stay inside.

Melissa Sizemore is with the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency. She says the agency is prepared for whatever the storms bring. 

“What we’ve really been doing is making sure all of our systems are operational, that all hands are on deck in the instance that something could happen and we’re ready to respond if in fact something does happen,” she says.

The agency is working closely with neighboring counties. Hub Harvey, director of the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, says residents of Shelby County can stay alerted through Everbridge notifications.

Officials say residents should have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and should not depend solely on outdoor warning sirens.

 

Israel’s leaders slam a news report on a Gaza ‘killing field’ near food sites

Israel's prime minister denounced a report in Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoting Israeli soldiers saying commanders ordered them to fire at unarmed crowds near food distribution sites.

In an about-face, Germany plans to build Europe’s biggest military

A new Trump presidency and the Ukraine war have pushed Germany to change its constitution to spend more on its military. "Building up our military is our top priority," said Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Slain Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman to be laid to rest in private funeral service

The Minnesota lawmaker was killed during a string of attacks against Democratic elected officials in the state.

Looking forward to July 4 fireworks? Tariffs may take the spark out of your fun

Fans of fireworks may face higher prices this Fourth of July. That's because most fireworks are made in China and importers now have to pay tariffs of at least 30%.

Where the Voting Rights Act stands after the Supreme Court punts on a Louisiana case

The Supreme Court delayed ruling on a Louisiana congressional redistricting case that some legal experts say could end up further weakening protections against maps that dilute minority voters' power.

Big beautiful bottleneck: Trump’s high-stakes week at home and abroad

From trade talks to the fate of his legislative agenda, what happens over the next 10 days or so, domestically and abroad, could come to define Trump's presidency.

More Environment Coverage