Severe storms to cross, cool Chilton County

Published 5:11 pm Friday, July 20, 2018

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Severe thunderstorms are in the forecast for Chilton County, anticipated to begin after 9 p.m. on July 20, and reaching into pre-dawn hours until about 2 a.m. on July 21.

According to National Weather Service Birmingham, the primary dangers from the storms are damaging winds and isolated hail.

The storm system has been crawling toward the state since July 19, drifting from northwest of Alabama and wreaking tornadic havoc in states such as Iowa and Kentucky.

The system poses the greatest threat to northwestern counties of Central Alabama. Chilton County has been categorized as a “slight risk” area since around 2:30 p.m. on July 20.

An exact time for the storms’ arrival in the heart of Central Alabama is uncertain, as of July 20 at 4:30 p.m., since the forecasted thunderstorms have yet to form, meteorologist Alex Sizemore of NWS Birmingham said.

The 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. projected time frame may be pushed back.

The storms are expected to slightly cool and dry the Chilton atmosphere for much of the weekend, providing some relief after the July 20 heat advisory.

A slight risk of storms remains for the evening of July 21, but only a 20 percent chance of rain is forecast for July 22.