Thunderstorms Increasing, Especially Northwest

Thunderstorms are increasing in coverage and intensity from northern Mississippi through northern Alabama.  The Storm Prediction has slightly played down the chance of severe weather in the northeastern portion of the state.  Still any of these storms may cause some brief wind gusts to between 40 and 60 mph into early this evening.  There is a decent cluster of storms we are currently watching from northern Walker county through southern Blount and northern Jefferson county.  These storms are tracking basically eastward and will be affecting Etowah, Saint Clair and Calhoun counties in the near term.
Additional storms will likely develop over the next few hours and are most likely from I-20 on north.