Rare 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' Tornado Watch In Effect

A high-risk severe weather outbreak is set to impact Alabama today, and the National Weather Service has now issued a rare 'PDS' Tornado Watch in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday, March 15.

PDS, which stands for 'Particularly Dangerous Situation,' is the language the Weather Service reserves for severe weather events that have the potential to generate intense long-track tornadoes.

NOAA/NWS

Severe storms capable of producing tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds will be possible in West Alabama through 9 p.m. Saturday, March 15.

The text of the PDS Tornado Watch is below:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 46 IN
EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN ALABAMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 27 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL ALABAMA

AUTAUGA               BIBB                  BLOUNT               
CALHOUN               CHILTON               COOSA                
DALLAS                ELMORE                ETOWAH               
FAYETTE               GREENE                HALE                 
JEFFERSON             LAMAR                 LOWNDES              
MARENGO               MARION                MONTGOMERY           
PERRY                 PICKENS               SHELBY               
ST. CLAIR             SUMTER                TALLADEGA            
TUSCALOOSA            WALKER                WINSTON              

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALABASTER, ALICEVILLE, ANNISTON, 
BIRMINGHAM, BRENT, CARROLLTON, CENTREVILLE, CLANTON, COLUMBIANA, 
DEMOPOLIS, EUTAW, FAYETTE, FORT DEPOSIT, GADSDEN, GREENSBORO, 
HALEYVILLE, HAMILTON, HOOVER, JACKSONVILLE, JASPER, LINDEN, 
LIVINGSTON, LOWNDESBORO, MARION, MILLBROOK, MONTGOMERY, MOODY, 
MOUNDVILLE, ONEONTA, PELHAM, PELL CITY, PRATTVILLE, ROCKFORD, 
SELMA, SULLIGENT, SYLACAUGA, TALLADEGA, TUSCALOOSA, UNIONTOWN, 
VERNON, WETUMPKA, AND YORK.

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