By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Multiple waves of severe weather will strike Shelby County and central Alabama over the next few days, according to the National Weather Service office in Calera.

In a hazardous weather outlook message issued on April 28, the NWS warned of a “significant threat of severe weather, including strong tornadoes.” The severe weather threat could begin as early as 3 p.m. on April 28 and last “through the night,” the weather advisory read.

In addition to tornadoes, the April 28 band of severe weather could also bring “damaging winds, very large hail and flash flooding.”

A second round of severe weather will hit the area on Tuesday, April 29, possibly as early as 3 p.m., according to the Weather Service. Tornadoes, large hail, flash flooding and damaging winds also are possible during the second round of storms.

All of central Alabama, including Shelby County, also is under a flood watch from 4 p.m. on April 28 until Wednesday morning, as “widespread heavy rainfall of up to 5 inches is expected.”