Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has issued a state of emergency for 46 counties ahead of the threat of tornadoes and other severe weather later today.

The state of emergency went into effect at 10 a.m. and covers Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox and Winston counties.

The declaration from the governor comes as flooding is taking place in parts of northern Alabama, including a portion of Interstate 65 in Cullman that the Alabama Department of Transportation has closed to traffic.

ALDOT is closing I-65 north & south bound at Exit 308 at Hwy 278 due to flooding. Traffic will be detoured to Hwy 31/2nd Ave thru the city of Cullman.

— Cullman County EMA (@CullmanEMA) March 25, 2021

I-65 at exit 308 in Cullman is closed due to flooding… pic.twitter.com/h59rxZdSRz

— James Spann (@spann) March 25, 2021

The severe weather threat has also caused the Alabama Department of Public Health to reschedule the Alabama National Guard’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hale County to Saturday, March 27.

The latest forecast from James Spann has the threat for severe weather in the state beginning at 11 a.m. and lasting until midnight for much of Alabama.

Alabama Power said its crews have been preparing this week ahead of today’s storms.

Alabama Power encourages customers to prepare for the possibility of severe weather as its Storm Team wraps up preparations to respond if needed. Learn more. https://t.co/XTaWIVdkNw pic.twitter.com/w9LU56OZc8

— alabamapower (@alabamapower) March 24, 2021