Tornado Threat For Tuscaloosa Today; More On Murder-Suicide

Happy St. Patrick's Day Tuscaloosa!

I hope you're staying weather-aware today as meteorologists point to the potential for widespread impacts from a significant severe weather event beginning this afternoon and lasting early into Thursday morning.

While I normally start each Daily with a quick weather report, here's a more detailed look at what to expect today as the potential threats loom. I will also post an UPDATE landing page that will include time-stamped news as it comes in.

Latest outlook (National Weather Service): Severe thunderstorms are likely Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday morning across all of west Alabama. Threats from these storm will include "strong long track tornadoes, large hail up to tennis ball size, and damaging winds up to 80 mph."

Other threats: NWS says wind gusts will have the potential to reach near 35 mph outside of thunderstorms Wednesday night, while locally heavy rainfall may cause minor flooding of poor
drainage areas through the evening hours. Minor flooding is also forecast along portions of the Black Warrior River beginning Thursday night.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF STORM SHELTERS IN TUSCALOOSA

Patch Pick: The Northport City Council held the first round of interviews for the open city administrator position Tuesday night. Get up to speed on the search in a little more than two minutes with my latest Patch Digital Feature.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. Dixie Pulp & Paper issued a statement Tuesday following a murder-suicide that claimed the lives of two employees in the parking lot of its Tuscaloosa warehouse Monday night. "We will provide our employees with counseling and other resources as we all deal with the aftermath of Monday night’s fatalities," the company said.

2. Following the shooting, journalist Tim Reid spoke with friends and family of Sean Barrett, the man shot to death in the parking lot of the warehouse before the shooter reportedly turned the gun on himself. (CBS 42 News)

3. Due to the threat of severe weather today, DCH’s remote vaccination site will only be open until 1 p.m. Those with appointments scheduled for 1 p.m. or later will be automatically rescheduled for the same time on Saturday, March 20. Shelton State Community College will also close both campuses.

4. Cecil Hurt gives the scoop on what Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats said about the high-profile job-opening at Indiana as the team prepares to take on Rick Pitino and Iona College in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. (Tuscaloosa News)

5. University of Alabama sophomore Mary Eliza Beaumont is leading a student effort to help mitigate coal ash pollution in Uniontown, Isabel Hope reports for the school's student newspaper. The story takes an in-depth look at environmental impacts and its multifaceted effects on an impoverished Black Belt community (Crimson White).

Click here for our updated list of St. Patrick's Day events in Tuscaloosa today.

From The Cheap Seats

HIGH SCHOOL

- The Tuscaloosa County High Wildcats softball team saw Shelby Simpson go the distance on the mound in a 5-2 win over Friendship Christian Tuesday. Brylin Gray also contributed some offensive production, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Despite the win, the Wildcats did also drop a 6-2 decision to Fairhope on Tuesday.

- The Northside High Rams softball team defeated Greenbrier 3-1 Tuesday at the Gulf Shores Classic. Bo Clark threw four innings and struck out six in the win, while Caroline Jones, Alexa Mathis and Chloe Perry each knocked in runs for the Rams as they moved to 4-0 in pool play at the tournament. The Rams also defeated Brentwood Academy 4-3 earlier in the day.

- The Hillcrest High Patriots softball team shut out Winchestertonville 8-0 on the arm of Matti Morrow, who got in four innings of work, giving up only three hits and striking out four. The Patriots were also aided in the winning effort by Haley Hollyhand, Emily Helton and Ave Dubose, who contributed 2 RBI each. Earlier in the day, CJ Harrison exploded for four RBI on three hits as the Patriots rode a 10-run third inning to defeat Caledonia (Miss.) 10-4.

COLLEGE

- Shelton State Community College's men's basketball won a nail biter 85-83 over Lawson State Tuesday, while the SSCC women's team won handily, 60-39.

- SSCC softball pitcher Emily Boin, a sophomore from Wicksburg, was named ACCC's Softball Pitcher of the Week after going 2-0 with nine strikeouts. Her earned run average over the week was a dominant 0.50.

- The Stillman Tigers baseball team saw DH Ben Vowell drive in four runs in a 8-7 win at Tougaloo College Tuesday. The second game of the double header was canceled due to the weather.

- Alabama softball's Bailey Hemphill was named SEC Player of the Week after reaching base in 10 of her 12 plate appearances over the weekend.

- Greensboro native and Alabama men's basketball star Herbert Jones took home yet another honor during his historic 2021 campaign, as he was named the 20th All-American in the program's history.

- The final round of the Tiger Invitational was suspended Tuesday due to weather, with action slated to resume Wednesday at 10 a.m. The Alabama men's golf team was in second place heading into the final round of the two-day, three-round tournament.

Here's your reminder to stay weather-aware today as the storms moving through are expected to have serious impacts for our area. Keep your NOAA weather radio handy and make sure your emergency action plan is in place.

If you see any storm damage or have any news worth reporting, email me at ryan.phillips@patch.com and I will include them in my running updates with credit given to the person providing the information.

Most importantly, stay safe and alert today.

- Ryan

About me: I grew up in Tuscaloosa. I'm a graduate of the University of Alabama, an experienced journalist, editor and columnist and the founder of Tuscaloosa Patch. You can find me at baseball games, public meetings, events in the local arts community and wherever live music is played!