James Spann: Storms today, dry tomorrow in Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

RADAR CHECK: A long line of strong storms is pushing southward across Alabama early this morning.

Flash flood warnings are in effect for Cullman, Morgan and parts of Madison, Marshall and Jackson counties, where rain amounts have exceeded 2 inches in many places.

The good news is that we have no active severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings (as of 6:15 a.m.), but a tornado watch remains in effect for parts of Northeast, Central and Southwest Alabama until 10 a.m. I would say the main threats this morning will come from flooding and gusty straight-line winds, but an isolated tornado can’t be ruled out. In fact, a storm moving into Bibb County is showing signs of rotation as I write this shortly after 6 a.m.

TRAGIC NIGHT: At least three people died in a tornado in the small Jackson County community of Rosalie last night, and four children were critically injured when a tornado struck a 24-hour day-care facility at Ider, in DeKalb County. Tornado damage was reported in parts of Pickens, Lamar, Marion, Winston, Jackson, Madison and DeKalb counties. We will know much more later this morning after National Weather Service survey teams get into the field.

THE DAY AHEAD: Rain and storms will end from northwest to southeast, and we will begin to see some clearing this afternoon as drier air works into the state. Temperatures will fall slowly during the day.

TOMORROW/FRIDAY: Cool, dry weather with sunny days and clear nights; highs from 57 to 60 tomorrow, followed by low 60s Friday. Lows will be in the 30s.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: For the 7A Alabama high school football championship game in Auburn tonight (McGill-Toolen Catholic vs. Hoover), the good news is that it now looks like most of the rain will be gone in time for the 7 p.m. kickoff — just an outside chance of a lingering shower. Temperatures will fall into the 50s during the game. Auburn will be rain-free for the rest of the games tomorrow and Friday.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Clouds increase Saturday, and another round of rain is likely statewide Sunday. Highs for the weekend should be in the 50s; the air Sunday will be stable and no severe weather is expected (probably no thunder).

NEXT WEEK: Unsettled, potentially stormy weather is the story through Wednesday night with occasional showers and thunderstorms. Another setup for strong to severe storms is shaping up by Wednesday based on global model runs. Then, the coldest air so far this season invades the state by Thursday and Friday; the GFS is even hinting at snow flurries next Thursday (don’t count on it!).

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