Tropical Storm Watch Issued for Monroe County: Prepare for Severe Weather

Monroe County residents, including those in Homewood and Monroeville, must immediately finalize preparations for dangerous wind, heavy rainfall, and the potential for tornadoes. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Mobile, AL, issued a Tropical Storm Watch today, October 7, at 9:53 PM CDT, indicating severe weather is expected from Friday evening until early Saturday morning.

Strong Tropical Storm force winds are forecast, with peak winds of 45-60 mph and gusts up to 80 mph. Significant damage to roofing, siding, and outbuildings is possible, along with snapped or uprooted trees and widespread power outages. Efforts to protect life and property should be underway now. Act to complete preparations before winds become hazardous.

Heavy rainfall of 3-6 inches is expected, with locally higher amounts, potentially leading to moderate flooding. Rivers and tributaries may overflow, causing road closures and necessitating evacuations and rescues in vulnerable areas. Heed all flood watches and warnings.

A few tornadoes are also possible. If a tornado warning is issued, be ready to shelter quickly. For local information, contact Monroe County EMA at 251-743-3259 or visit www.facebook.com/monroeema. For storm impacts, refer to www.weather.gov/mob. This watch is effective immediately and expires October 8, 2026, at 6:00 AM UTC.