CORDOVA, AL (WBRC)- The state of Alabama is receiving more than $49 million from the federal government for long-term recovery from the April 2011 tornadoes.

Governor Robert Bentley formally accepted the funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $49,157,000 while in Cordova on Wednesday morning. The check presentation was held at Long Memorial United Methodist Church.

The HUD funding was announced in March and will go toward various communities impacted by the April 2011 tornado outbreak.

The governor's office says those communities will be "encouraged to apply for portions of that funding to help with housing, business and infrastructure needs that have not already been met through other assistance."

Cities across the state will have to apply to receive a portion of the $49 million, which will be spread out among several areas. Applications can begin to be submitted on Thursday.

Originally posted on the Fox6 Weather blog

The slow moving upper level low over Alabama will keep our area cold, cloudy, and damp today. As expected the colder air aloft has produced some impressive hail. Yesterday we had lots of of hail in Blount County. We also had some hail reports from the Talladega Super Speedway.

There was also a report of a funnel cloud near New Market in North Alabama. Cold air funnels are not that uncommon when it comes to these types of upper atmospheric storm systems. The low should finally move out tomorrow, with temperatures rising into the low 70s.

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- A line of severe storms is crossing central Alabama, bringing heavy rain and lightning into the area.

The severe storms moved through Tuscaloosa and Jasper around 3 p.m., crossing the I-65 corridor into the Birmingham metro area around 4:30 p.m. The storms could produce winds between 60 and 80 mph along with torrential rainfall and lightning.

A tornado watch is in effect until 7 p.m. for the following counties:

Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Jefferson, Lowndes, Montgomery, Perry, Shelby, St. Clair, and Talladega counties.

The following counties are under a tornado watch until 10 p.m.:

Barbour, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Lee, Macon, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Tallapoosa counties.