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Pike County residents should brace for severe storms and possible tornadoes this afternoon.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham upgraded the risk of severe weather for Pike County overnight, moving it from an enhanced to moderate risk level.

Threats include strong, long-track tornadoes, 70 mph straight-line winds, golf ball sized hail and severe thunderstorms. The storms are forecast to enter the Pike County area between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m. Monday.

The Meeksville shelter will be open for residents in that area and the Troy Recreation Center also will open as a shelter

The City of Troy Recreation Center on Enzor Road and the Meeksville Shelter will open  at 5:00 p.m. for local residents to seek shelter. The Trojan Center on the Troy University campus will also be open for students seeking shelter.   The timing of these openings could change depending on the weather and how fast the movement of the system is.