Cool, Dry Weekend Ahead
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THIS AFTERNOON: It is a day of blue sky and sunshine for Alabama. Temperatures are in the 50s at 2:00.
OUR WEEKEND: A disturbance riding down the upper trough over the eastern U.S. will bring some scattered clouds into our state tomorrow, but the low levels will be very dry and there won’t be any precipitation. Sunday will feature a sunny sky; the high both days should be in the 50s. Look for a freeze early Sunday with a low somewhere between 28 and 32 degrees for most places.
NEXT WEEK: Monday and Tuesday will stay rain-free with a good supply of sunshine both days and a warming trend with highs back in the 60s. The 12Z GFS hints that a few showers could show up as early as Wednesday, with a better chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm by Wednesday night and Thursday. This run is weaker than last night’s 00Z run, and suggests no severe weather or really heavy rain. We do note this run shows much colder air blowing into the state the following weekend (Feb 4-5), but other runs have not looked that cold.
THE LAND OF VOODOO: All of a sudden this run shows a very cold look for the Deep South in the Feb 10-12 timeframe, but with the ensembles still showing a positive NAO, I wouldn’t be surprised if that goes away in future runs. See the Weather Xtreme video for details.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40.
CONNECT: You can find me on all of the major social networks…
Be looking for the 1st graders at Brookwood Forest Elementary in Mountain Brook on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News… Brian Peters will have the video updates tomorrow and Sunday; my next Weather Xtreme video will come up early Monday morning by 7:00 a.m. Enjoy the weekend!
A Big Alabama Rain Event
Naturally, tornado damage is still the number one concern across Alabama. But the state also received a widespread drenching from numerous showers and thunderstorms. This list is for the 24 hours ending at approximately 6 am, CST today. These reports are from ABC 33/40 Skywatchers and official reports from the NWS stations.
1.19 Huntsville
1.24 Crossville
1.42 Cullman AG Station
2.10 Scottsboro
1.16 Hytop
1.27 Madison
1.22 Hanceville
1.35 Ider
1.74 Flat Rock
2.98 Scottsboro/Lakeside
1.92 Widows Creek
2.90 Albertville
1.78 Boaz
1.11 Falkville
1.37 Addison
1.71 Centreville
1.35 Dora
1.22 Selma
2.27 Oak Grove (West Jefferson County)
1.50 Cordova
1.46 Childersburg
2.60 Springville
2.21 Bessemer
1.90 Mountain Brook
1.88 Coker
1.90 Concord
1.61 Gardendale
1.09 Weaver
2.34 Birmingham Airport
Cooler, Calm Days
An all new edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video is available in the player on the right sidebar of the blog. You can subscribe to the Weather Xtreme video on iTunes by clicking here.
DRY AIR MOVING IN: While clouds linger across our state this morning, we expect the sky to become mostly sunny later today as dry air takes over in the wake of the upper trough that brought the rain and storms to our state yesterday. The weather will be cooler with high in the mid to upper 50s.
DRY WEEKEND: Dry air stays in place over the weekend. A disturbance passing north of Alabama will bring a few clouds to North Alabama tomorrow, but Sunday will feature sunshine in full supply. The high tomorrow will be in the upper 50s, followed by mid 50s Sunday. And, we go below the freezing mark at daybreak Sunday with a low between 27 and 32. This will be our first morning below freezing since January 19.
NEXT WEEK: The weather will be dry Monday and Tuesday with a warming trend. We will mention just a slight risk of a shower late Wednesday; the latest GFS shows a decent system arriving Thursday with the next chance of showers and thunderstorms. The 06Z GFS shows thunderstorm potential, but not a classic severe weather setup. Cooler air follows by Friday.
LONG RANGE: Still no sign of any really long lasting cold weather, or snow/ice potential for the next 15 days as the NAO stays positive. See the Weather Xtreme video for details.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40.
CONNECT: You can find me on all of the major social networks…
I had a wonderful time last night; I was the speaker at the Greenville (AL) Chamber of Commerce banquet down in Butler County. I lived there through 4th grade; it was great to see so many old friends, including Mayor Dexter McLendon, my old first grade pal. Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!
ABC 33/40 Skywatcher Takes A Direct Hit
We received this note and message from Wally Coker, a longtime ABC 33/40 Weather Watcher from Clay…
“I just wanted to let you know that my home was severely damaged early Monday, and will have to be completely rebuilt. We are all alive and uninjured. Glad we have a basement, on the right front corner of the house. God took care of us for sure.
On the weather geek side, I should have a very good pressure plot and wind data (until the anemometer disappeared) when I get around to powering up data from my computer. Unfortunately it was about 50 feet from the center line of the tornado. Hopefully it shut down before the water came into the basement. Needless to say I will not be reporting weather conditions for a while from this address (6241 Jonathans Way).
I have a very good endorsement story for the WeatherCall.net product. NOAA Weather Radio reception at my house is very poor for Birmingham. I can receive Cheaha and Oneonta Transmitters fine. Sure wish I could get Jefferson County warnings added to either of WX Radio Sites. I do not think anybody believes me when I say there is a dead spot for all Red Mountain transmitters (including TV and Radio).”
Severe Threat Pushing East, Possible Tornado in Uniontown Earlier
The severe weather threat continues to shift east this afternoon. The slight risk on the latest convective outlook was shifted well east of Birmingham.
The NWS has canceled the tornado watch for several more counties, including Autauga, Chilton, Lowndes, Shelby and St. Clair.
LATE ADDITIONAL CANCELS:
Watch canceled for Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Elmore, Montgomery, Randolph and Talladega.
The watch continues for Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Lee, Macon, Pike, Russell, Tallapoosa [AL] till 5:00 PM CST.
There is a tremendous amount of spin in the low levels of the atmosphere, mainly due to a secondary low that it over western Alabama. The secondary low and the primary low are lifting northeast. The SPC will issue new watches to the east shortly.
The heavy rain continues to push into East Alabama. A few showers are lingering behind the main rain area.
More showers are developing back near the front over Central Mississippi, but they won’t produce heavy rain or severe weather.
DAMAGE IN UNIONTOWN
A possible tornado touched down in Uniontown in Perry County at 10:55 a.m. Ten homes were damaged, including four significantly. One home was shifted off its foundation.
FLOOD REPORT
Sweeney Hollow Road in Northeast Jefferson County was flooded about an hour ago. It should recede quickly.
Tornado Warning Will Be Allowed to Expire
The NWS will allow the tornado warning to expire.
The rotation has weakened. It is about to pass between Verbena and Clanton along I-65/US-31.
Tornado watch continues until 5 p.m. for East Central and South Central Alabama, but the best threat of severe weather will mainly to the south.
Tornado on the Ground Moving into Chilton County
The NWS reports public report of tornado on the ground south of Billingsley a few minutes ago.
Rotation now passing into Chilton County. Will pass near Verbena and Mountain Home.
Folks in Marbury also need to be in their safe place.
This tornado will also pass near the Lake Mitchell Dam.
The storm continues to move into an area where the instability is less, so hopefully the storm will weaken and the warning won’t have to to be extended past its current 1:15 p.m. expiration.
Tornado Watch Trimmed A Bit More
The NWS has canceled the tornado watch for Bibb, Dallas and Perry Counties.
The tornado watch continues for Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega and Tallapoosa Counties until 5:00 PM CST
Strong Rotation in Autauga, Will Move into Clanton
UPDATE AT 12:58
The rotation in Autauga County appears to have weakened a bit. But if your are in the warning polygon, be in your tornado safe place as the storm approaches.
PREVIOUS POST
Strong rotation on the storm passing over US-82 south of Bilingsley. The rotation is deep.
The rotational velocity is now 87 knots, or over 100 mph.
The possible tornado is moving northeast and will pass near Verbena and Mountain View. It should pass south of Clanton.
Tornado Warning: Chilton/Autauga
Distinct rotation now showing up on Doppler radar just south of Billingsley in Autauga County. This is lifting northeast. Will pass south of Billingsley and should stay south of Clanton.
WFUS54 KBMX 261839
TORBMX
ALC001-021-261915-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0017.120126T1839Z-120126T1915Z/
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1239 PM CST THU JAN 26 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
NORTHERN AUTAUGA COUNTY IN ALABAMA…
SOUTHEASTERN CHILTON COUNTY IN ALABAMA…
* UNTIL 115 PM CST
* AT 1237 PM CST…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM
WAS LOCATED NEAR MULBERRY…OR 12 MILES EAST OF VALLEY GRANDE…AND
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
CLANTON…VIDA JUNCTION…BILLINGSLEY…MARBURY…VERBENA…HIGGINS
FERRY PARK…DAWSON MILL…NEW PROSPECT…ENTERPRISE AND COOPER.
THIS INCLUDES…
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 193 THROUGH 212…
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
TAKE COVER NOW. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING.
HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR
THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.
&&
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER…
CALL 1-800-856-0758.
LAT…LON 3245 8675 3252 8684 3295 8658 3289 8648
3287 8648 3286 8645 3282 8646 3276 8639
3275 8640 3275 8641 3271 8641 3263 8643
TIME…MOT…LOC 1839Z 216DEG 33KT 3253 8676
$$
27
WWWW
