CULLMAN, Ala. – All of north Alabama will see the threat of severe weather Wednesday night and Thursday morning as a cold front moves into the area, and short-term conditions could set the stage for flooding this weekend.
Most models indicate a round of showers and storms ahead of the cold front Wednesday afternoon and evening, followed by a round of storms with the front’s arrival early Thursday morning. Based on current models, some storms could pop up as soon as early Wednesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service Huntsville forecaster’s discussion page said that, between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, the area could see the threat for “a tornado or two.” Hail is also possible, though atmospheric conditions indicate a low chance of the kind of large hail that worries many Cullmanites.
According to the forecaster, “The main threat with the storms will be damaging winds.”
Watch for flooding
The forecaster also warned of possible flooding from Wednesday afternoon through the weekend. While the current forecast shows 1-1.5 inches of rain on Wednesday and Thursday, the forecaster warned that “this could be on the low end” and “Additionally, this event could act to prime the ground for the heavy rainfall expected over the weekend.”
Where to go in the event of a weather emergency
According to Cullman County EMA, shelters will be opened by local authorities in the communities where they are located when a tornado watch or warning is declared. Please locate the shelter closest to you and make a plan to stay safe.
Cullman County Community Storm Shelters
Baileyton- Three shelters opened by Town of Baileyton
- 112 Fairview Road
- 130 Cemetery Road
- 600 Fire Station Road
Berlin- Opened by Berlin Volunteer Fire Department
- 3584 US Hwy 278 E (Behind BVFD)
Bethsadia- Opened by Bethsadia Volunteer Fire Department
- 454 Co Rd 804 (Bethsadia Volunteer Fire Department)
Brushy Pond- Opened by the senior center
- 2729 Co Rd 143 Bremen (Brushy Pond Senior Center)
Chapel Village/Jones Chapel- Always open
- 74 Co Rd 1034 (just off Hwy 278)
Colony Senior Center- Opened by the senior center
- 12980 AL Hwy 91 S
Colony- Opened by Town of Colony
- 65 Byars Road (Adjacent to Town Hall)
Crane Hill- Two shelters opened by Crane Hill Volunteer Fire Department
- 15140 Co Rd 222 (Senior Center)
- 15123 Co Rd 222 (Crane HIll VFD #1)
Cullman Senior Center- Opened by the senior center
- 1539 Sportsman Lake Rd
City of Cullman- Two shelters opened by Cullman Police Department
- 1511 Sportsman Lake Rd (Across from Cullman County Fairgrounds)
- 1803 Beech Ave SE (Beech Center Basement)
Dodge City- Opened by Town of Dodge City
- 130 Howard Circle (Town Hall basement)
Dodge City Volunteer Fire Department- Opened by DCVFD
- 7150 Co Rd 223
Fairview Housing Authority- Always open
- 96 Countryside Acres Rd
Garden City- Opened by Town of Garden City
- 501 1st Ave SW (by Town Hall)
Good Hope- Two shelters opened by City of Good Hope
- 301 Day Gap Rd.
- 301 Municipal Drive (Behind City Hall)
Gold Ridge- Opened by Gold Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
- 5225 Co Rd 1545 (GRVFD)
Hanceville- Three shelters opened by Hanceville Police Department
- 202 Bangor Ave (Behind City Hall)
- 203 Michelle St NW (CW Day Park)
- 1407 Commercial Street (Steppeville)
Hanceville Senior Center- Opened by the senior center
- 1500 Spruce St SE (Behind senior center)
Holly Pond- Opened by Town of Holly Pond
- 60 Finley Rd (Adjacent to Town Hall)
Logan- Opened by Logan Volunteer Fire Department
- 4203 Co Rd 818 (LVFD)
Smith Lake Park- Opened by County Park and Recreation
- 416 Co Rd 385 (Behind the office)
Stony Lonesome OHV- Opened by Cullman County Park and Recreation
- 10075 AL Hwy 69 S (2 units)
South Vinemont- Opened by Vinemont/Providence Volunteer Fire Department
- 60 Ridgeway St (Behind VPVFD #2)
Vinemont/Providence VFD #1- Opened by VPVFD
- 576 Co Rd 1355
Walter VFD- Opened by Walter Volunteer Fire Department
- 32655 AL Hwy 91 (Between VFD and Dollar General)
West Point- Two shelters opened by Town of West Point
- 3990 Co Rd 1141 (Next to Town Hall)
- 11160 AL Hwy 157 (Behind WPVFD #1)
The rules for all community shelters according to Cullman County EMA:
- No Pets- Only service animals for the disabled are allowed in the shelter.
- No Smoking- Smoking is not allowed inside the shelter.
- No Alcohol- Consumption of alcohol is not allowed in or around the shelter.
- No Drugs- Use of “recreational drugs” is not allowed in or around the shelter.
- No firearms or weapons of any kind are allowed in the shelters.
Additional rules may be in place at each shelter. Those in the City of Cullman are encouraged to use the shelter across from the Cullman County Fairgrounds or the shelter at the Beech Center. One pod of the community shelter across from the fairgrounds will allow smaller pets confined to a carrier.
Use of masks and social distancing are not required in shelters, but are encouraged.
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