Tornado Warning Issued for Tuscaloosa, Alabama Until 1:00 PM CDT Friday May 22 as Birmingham NWS Detects Radar Indicated Tornado Take Shelter NowTUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA — The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued Tornado Warning Number 9 for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, valid from 12:17 PM CDT through 1:00 PM CDT on Friday, May 22, 2026. The tornado is radar indicated, with hail up to 0.75 inches also possible with this storm. Anyone inside the warning area has less than 45 minutes to get to shelter. Act now.The Warning Is Active Right Now
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA — The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued Tornado Warning Number 9 for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, valid from 12:17 PM CDT through 1:00 PM CDT on Friday, May 22, 2026. The tornado is radar indicated, with hail up to 0.75 inches also possible with this storm. Anyone inside the warning area has less than 45 minutes to get to shelter. Act now.
The Warning Is Active Right Now
This is an active and official Tornado Warning from the National Weather Service. The warning was issued at 12:17 PM CDT based on NEXRAD radar data from 12:15 PM showing rotation capable of producing a tornado. The warning polygon covers portions of Tuscaloosa County and remains in effect until 1:00 PM CDT. Do not wait to see or hear a tornado before taking shelter.
What Radar Is Showing
The 12:15 PM NEXRAD radar image shows a concentrated area of intense reflectivity within the warning polygon, with values reaching into the 60 to 80 dBZ range, indicating an extremely intense storm cell capable of producing a tornado and significant hail. The storm is positioned and moving in a manner consistent with the warning area issued by NWS Birmingham.
You Must Take Shelter Immediately If You Are In Tuscaloosa
If you are anywhere inside the Tuscaloosa tornado warning area, stop what you are doing and take shelter right now:
- Go to your lowest floor immediately
- Move to an interior room away from all windows
- Get under a staircase, in a bathroom, or a closet
- Cover yourself with a mattress, blanket, or heavy coats
- Stay off the roads completely
- Do not go outside until the warning expires at 1:00 PM CDT
Warning Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Issuing Office | NWS Birmingham, Alabama |
| Warning Type | Tornado Warning |
| Tornado Source | Radar Indicated |
| Hail Size | Up to 0.75 inches |
| Warning Issued | 12:17 PM CDT |
| Warning Expires | 1:00 PM CDT |
| Date | Friday, May 22, 2026 |
Stay with CabarrusWeekly.com for live tornado warning updates across Alabama through Friday afternoon.
