By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Shelby County until 3:45 p.m.

According to the thunderstorm warning, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter-size hail and destructive winds in excess of 70 miles per hour is moving northwest at 5 miles per hour.

The areas affected by the storm include Hoover, Highland Lakes, Fowler Lake, Greystone and Chelsea.

“We’ve had reports of golf ball-sized hail in the Highland lakes community,” NWS meteorologist Jessica Talley said. “You want to make sure you keep current with the forecast of the day. If you’re in an outside activity, you want to make sure you have a way to stay current with the weather because these types of storms they seemingly form very fast.”

At 3:20 p.m., Talley said the storm is beginning to weaken, because the storms form so quickly, they tend to dissipated just as quickly.