ST LOUIS (LALATE) – A Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado has just touched down, putting Birmingham and neighboring areas on alert tonight. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado today is confirmed as serious, destructive, and capable of producing major destruction. Meantime, the National Weather Service is telling news that Huntsville, Alabama is also under alert within the hour.

Earlier, the Weather Channel reported a tornado was spotted in Madison, Alabama heading to Huntsville this afternoon. A large tornado was thereafter spotted moving outside of Tuscaloosa within the last fifteen miles. One news report puts a tornado fifteen miles southwest of Northport, Alabama, moving north east through the state.

There is reportedly massive damage also corridors of Interstate 65 tonight and especially near its interchange with Interstate 565. Southern Walker County and Cordova also are under alert tonight.

UPDATE: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tornado Photos Set 1
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This afternoon the NWS issued one of the biggest, and most severe, tornado news alerts within the last seven days. “This is a potentially very dangerous scenario for anyone in central Alabama” says the news statement. Now is the time to review your severe weather action plan and be prepared to take quick action” says the NWS.

UPDATE: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tornado Photos Set 2
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Of concern are “tornadic supercells …expected to begin developing” this afternoon. The NWS says the threat will shift eastward this afternoon, “potentially reaching the Interstate 65 corridor between 4 and 6 pm”.