A line of strong storms continues across Alabama this evening. It is accelerating eastward, which is good news. This means that the threat will be over sooner than thought.

But there still could be additional severe weather overnight as instability levels slowly wane but shear kevels remain high. There is a strong 50-60 knot low-level jet aligned over western Alabama. These strong winds could be brought to the surface by any stronger thunderstorm updrafts and downdrafts.

A PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Tornado Watch continues until 3 a.m. for parts of central Alabama. Fourteen counties have been cleared in the Birmingham warning area: Bibb, Dallas, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Marion, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston. The watch continues for Autauga, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Elmore, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega and Tallapoosa.

The watch also remains in effect for the south Alabama counties of Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington.

In north Alabama, the Tornado Watch has been canceled for Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties. The watch continues for Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall and Morgan counties.

Flash Flood Warnings are in effect for parts of Walker, Winston and Cullman counties. It is pouring across a large part of west Alabama including Walker, Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb, Tuscaloosa, Hale and Perry counties. There will be additional flooding of some low-lying areas.

For more weather news and information from James Spann, Bill Murray and other members of the James Spann team, visit AlabamaWx.