Tuscaloosa Farmers Market Canceled Saturday as Hurricane Isaias Approaches

Saturday's Tuscaloosa Farmers Market has been canceled ahead of the severe weather expected to reach West Alabama this weekend.

The City of Tuscaloosa announced the cancellation Thursday, citing the forecast. Potential high winds and heavy rainfall could disrupt market setup and create unsafe conditions for vendors and patrons, the city said.

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The cancellation comes as Hurricane Isaias moves across the Gulf toward the central Gulf Coast. As of the National Hurricane Center's 1 p.m. advisory Thursday, Isaias was a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, moving east-northeast at 10 mph. Forecasters said preparations in the warning area should be rushed to completion Thursday.

Tuscaloosa County is at the northern edge of a Tropical Storm Watch issued by the National Weather Service in Birmingham Thursday.

The NWS said Central Alabama should expect the bulk of the storm's effects Friday into Saturday, mainly gusty winds and steady rain, and advised residents to begin considering preparations for power outages and flooding.

Hurricane and storm surge watches are posted for coastal Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle, with tropical storm watches extending inland to several south Alabama counties.

The market will resume its regular schedule Saturday, October 17, running from 7 a.m. to noon at the Tuscaloosa River Market.

The city directed anyone with questions to Tuscaloosa 311.

For more exclusive coverage of local news and other Hurricane impacts in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.