MADISON, AL — A tornado emergency was declared Tuesday evening for portions of Madison, Huntsville, and surrounding areas as a large, destructive tornado was confirmed on the ground west of Madison, moving east at 35 mph.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the urgent alert at 6:22 p.m. CDT, calling the situation a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” and urging residents in the storm’s path to seek immediate shelter.

Radar imagery indicated a significant debris ball over one mile wide, confirming the tornado’s intensity and potential for catastrophic damage.

The storm system has already produced multiple rotating cells across northern Alabama, with two major areas of concern — one near Muscle Shoals and another south of Rogersville — both exhibiting strong tornado potential.

The tornado emergency remained in effect until 6:45 p.m. for western Madison County, eastern Limestone County, and the cities of Madison, Huntsville, and Athens. Emergency officials warned of an imminent and serious threat to life and property.

“Take shelter now,” the NWS urged. “Go to the lowest level of your home, away from windows, and put as many walls between you and the outside as possible.”

Multiple emergency management agencies are monitoring the situation, and residents are advised to stay alert to evolving warnings and updates through official weather channels.