MOBILE, Ala. — As severe weather began thrashing the coastal Alabama region Tuesday morning, The National Weather Service in Mobile issued a new Tornado Watch and maintained a Flash Flood Watch posted earlier for areas of coastal Alabama.

The new Tornado Watch was issued Tuesday morning, effective through 6:00 pm CST for Baldwin, Mobile, Washington and Choctaw counties in Alabama and most counties in southern Mississippi.

The Flash Flood Watch remains in effect from through 6:00 am Wednesday. That alert was posted at 3:25 Monday afternoon.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued prior to 7:00 am on a storm cell moving through midtown and downtown Mobile. The storm produced quarter-size-plus hail, high winds and frequent lightning. Shortly after, a second Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued on another weather cell moving on a similar path, to the north-northwest.

The Flash Flood Watch is issued for portions of Alabama and northwest Florida including the following areas in Alabama: Butler...Conecuh...Covington...Crenshaw...Escambia...lower Baldwin...lower Mobile...upper Baldwin and upper Mobile counties.

In northwest Florida the watch extends to coastal Escambia...coastal Okaloosa... coastal Santa Rosa...inland Escambia...inland Okaloosa and inland Santa Rosa counties.

Timing: From Tuesday morning through late Tuesday night

Forecast: Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts of 6 to 8 inches possible.

Threats: Minor flooding in urban and low lying areas is likely...with the potential for flash flooding in urban corridors where thunderstorms repeatedly move over the same location. Minor flooding along a few rivers in southwest Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle is also possible...particularly if the higher rainfall totals are realized.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.