National Weather Service Issues Special Weather Statement for Strong Thunderstorms in Cherokee and Etowah Counties

CHEROKEE & ETOWAH COUNTIES — The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a Special Weather Statement for portions of Cherokee and Etowah counties early Tuesday morning as a line of strong thunderstorms moves across the region.

The statement, issued at 5:49 a.m. CDT and effective through 6:45 a.m. CDT, is classified as a Moderate severity event with observed conditions and expected continued impacts. Officials noted that individuals outdoors should consider seeking shelter inside a building.

At the time of the advisory, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms extending from approximately 6 miles southwest of Summerville to 6 miles northwest of Sand Rock, and continuing to about 6 miles northeast of McLarty. The storms were moving east at around 40 miles per hour.

The primary hazard associated with the system is wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour. Forecasters say these gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured outdoor objects.

Communities potentially impacted include Gadsden, Centre, Cedar Bluff, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Centre Municipal Airport, Sardis City, Leesburg, Reece City, Sand Rock, Gaylesville, Tabor Road, Cherokee Rock Village, Cornwall Furnace Park, Blanche, Eastern Weiss Lake, Little River Falls, Slackland, Western Weiss Lake, Weiss Dam, and Yellow Creek Falls.

Residents in Cherokee and Etowah counties are urged to remain alert as the line of storms continues moving east across the area.