Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Autauga County until 9 PM

The severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect for Autauga County and surrounding areas in Alabama until 9 p.m. CDT, putting Prattville and the rest of the county on alert for fast-changing storm conditions through the evening commute and after-school activity window.

Autauga County sits in central Alabama and had a population of 58,805 in the 2020 Census, with Prattville as the county seat. That makes the watch relevant for a large residential area inside the Montgomery metro region, where evening travel, youth sports, outdoor events and utility service can all be affected if thunderstorms strengthen.

The National Weather Service’s Birmingham office has repeatedly stressed that central Alabama is a recurring severe-weather zone, and it points to the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak as a reminder of how quickly storms can turn dangerous. That outbreak produced 62 confirmed tornadoes across Alabama over nearly 18 hours and became one of the state’s deadliest weather events.

For that reason, residents were urged to stay weather-aware now, even though the alert was a watch and not a warning. A watch means conditions are favorable for severe storms, including damaging winds and hail, and the situation can escalate quickly if storms intensify. Families with school pickups, ballgames or outdoor dinners should be ready to move indoors with little notice.

The safest approach is to have multiple ways to receive warnings, including phone alerts, weather radio and local broadcast updates, so a change from watch to warning is not missed. Power interruptions, downed limbs and difficult driving conditions are possible if stronger cells move through the county later in the evening.

Alabama News Beacon advised residents to monitor updates for potential severe-weather impacts as the watch continued toward the 9 p.m. expiration. The next official update will matter most if storms develop into a warning, especially for people on the road in Prattville and across the broader Montgomery area.