Limestone battened down the hatches as a line of severe thunderstorms tracked eastward across the central Tennessee Valley, but the area seems have to escaped any serious damage.
At early afternoon, Rita White of the Emergency Management Agency said the “big mass” of storms was breaking up, but meteorologists warned that this could mean even stronger winds.
“It can be bad when individual cells develop into stronger cells than the big mass,” said White.
The area was under a tornado watch until 5 p.m., later extended to 7 p.m., and one time during late afternoon sirens sounded as a tornado was spotted on the ground in Lauderdale County that threatened the Rogersville community.
Several county schools postponed football games until tonight, but Athens High School went ahead with its match against Lee High School, played in Huntsville.
Schools did not dismiss classes early, but the Athens city schools Latch Key Program did not meet and several extracurricular activities were canceled.
Along with the threat of severe weather, the area was expected to be deluged with as much as 3 inches per hour. There were no reports of local flash flooding, although a flash flood watch was issued for the afternoon and evening hours, according to the National Weather Service Office in Huntsville.
Rainfall was expected to taper off during the overnight hours, but light to moderate rains along with an isolated thunderstorm were expected to be ongoing into today. The rainfall, though, is expected to come to an end late this afternoon and evening.
No hazardous weather is expected Sunday through Thursday.
Local News
Limestone escapes severe weather
- Local News
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- Holiday closings
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Memorial Day ceremony slated for Monday
The event, presented by American Legion Post 49 with assistance from the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Limestone County Event Center on Pryor Street.
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Tornado artifacts sought for exhibit
Scientists at the National Weather Service in Huntsville are asking Limestone County residents to contribute to a historical and educational display about the tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011.
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Schools chief is 'ecstatic' over job
Board members cited Sisk’s experience in handling personnel issues, his working for a large school system, his outgoing personality and his willingness to help obtain money to buy laptop computers for students as evidence of his promise.
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'Significant' local arrests net drugs, cash
Limestone County deputies made what Sheriff Mike Blakely termed “significant arrests” with a Friday evening drug bust of a house at 817 Westmoreland Street.
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BREAKING: Reward offered in Limestone burglary
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Click "Local News" bar at top left for more stories
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Bills in meth trash lead to arrest
Trash included the portions of phone and cable bills that led investigators to the address of 43-year-old Larry M. Mason of Tuscumbia.
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Space Camp celebrating 30th anniversary
The center is hosting a weekend of family-friendly activities and a reunion of Space Camp alumni on June 15.
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Community colleges seeing declining enrollment
American Association of Community Colleges spokeswoman Norma Kent says changes in the economy are to blame.
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