Tropical Storm Warning Issued for Shelby County: Prepare for High Winds, Flooding

Shelby County residents are urged to finalize preparations for Tropical Storm force winds and significant flooding, following a Tropical Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) Birmingham AL today, October 9, at 10:17 AM CDT. The warning is in effect for Columbiana, Pelham, and Alabaster.

Tropical storm-force winds are expected to begin early Saturday morning and continue until Saturday afternoon, with peak winds forecast at 35-45 mph and gusts up to 60 mph. Residents should move to safe shelter before winds become hazardous. Potential impacts include damage to lightweight structures, broken tree limbs, a few snapped or uprooted trees, and scattered power and communications outages. Some roads may become impassable due to debris.

A Flood Watch is also in effect. Peak rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches, with locally higher amounts, could lead to moderate flooding. Rivers and tributaries may swell, and small streams could overflow. Driving conditions will become hazardous, with potential road and bridge closures. Residents in flood-vulnerable areas should consider protective actions and heed all flood watches and warnings.

Tornadoes are not expected at this time. For more information and safety tips, visit ready.gov/hurricanes. This warning is effective until October 9, 2026, at 6:30 PM UTC.