Courtesy of NWS
Due to the threat of inclement weather, Shelby County Schools and Hoover City Schools will be closed on Wednesday, April 5. All after-school activities will also be canceled Wednesday.
The city of Hoover has closed all of its offices, Municipal Court, the Hoover Senior Center, Hoover Public Library and Aldridge Gardens on Wednesday, and the Hoover Recreation Center will be closed til at least 1 p.m., city spokeswoman Lori Schommer said.
A decision on whether to open the Rec Center at 1 p.m. will be made later as city officials monitor the weather, she said.
Hoover city employees in the police, fire, public works, building inspections and fleet services departments are to report to work as normal.
During the April 4 Chelsea City Council meeting, Chelsea Fire Chief Wayne Shirley and Mayor Tony Picklesimer encouraged residents to be safe and weather aware on Wednesday.
Shirley also gave an update on emergency management in the city, notifying the council that all 20 outdoor warning sirens are working. Even though those sirens are working, Shirley also encouraged citizens to keep their weather radios and other severe weather alerts on on Wednesday.
Governor Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency in advance of Wednesday's severe weather event.
“Alabama is no stranger to the impact severe weather can have on communities and the devastation that can occur when the weather takes a turn for the worse,” Bentley's statement said. “I have issued a State of Emergency as a precautionary measure to ensure state resources are on standby and are ready to assist impacted communities should the need arise. I also want to encourage individuals to stay weather aware and have a method to receive the latest weather alerts.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) had Birmingham and much of the over the mountain area in a "moderate" severe risk, the second highest. A moderate risk includes the chance for highly destructive, long-track tornados, up to and including baseball size hail, and damaging straight-line winds.
Severe weather could begin as early as 4 a.m., the NWS said, and could come in multiple waves throughout the day until around 9 p.m.
The NWS issued a variety of reminders about severe weather preparedness on its Twitter, which can be found at @NWSBirmingham.
This post was updated at 10:45 p.m. after Hoover officials announced the closing of Hoover city facilities Wednesday.