Archive for April, 2012
6th Driest April in Central Alabama
As we close out April, 2012, the Birmingham International Airport has seen only 1.26 inches of rain for this month. This goes in the record book as the 6th driest April on record since 1900. The only years that were drier than this April were 1986, 1987, 1942, 1915, and 1925.
Without much moisture to deal with, it’s no wonder that April also had very little severe weather to deal with, too!
-Brian-
WeatherBrains LIVE!
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No Tornadoes In April 2012!
NOUS44 KBMX 302204 CCA
PNSBMX
ALZ011>015-017>050-010945-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
442 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012
…PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT…
…NO CONFIRMED TORNADOES IN ALABAMA FOR APRIL 2012…
MERELY ONE YEAR AFTER ESTABLISHING THE RECORD FOR THE MOST
TORNADOES IN A SINGLE MONTH IN ALABAMA…ACTUALLY BREAKING THE
PREVIOUS ANNUAL RECORD IN A SINGLE MONTH…THERE HAS NOT BEEN A
SINGLE CONFIRMED TORNADO REPORTED IN ALABAMA IN THE MONTH OF APRIL
2012. THE LAST TIME ALABAMA EXPERIENCED A TORNADO-FREE APRIL WAS
IN 2004. THIS RESPITE COMES AS AN OBVIOUS RELIEF TO TORNADO
STRICKEN CITIZENS OF ALABAMA…MANY OF WHOM ARE STILL RECOVERING
FROM THE DEVASTATING APRIL 27TH 2011 OUTBREAK.
WHY SO MANY TORNADOES LAST YEAR AND SO FEW TORNADOES THIS YEAR?
WHILE LAST YEAR`S PATTERN WAS FAVORABLE AND ACTIVE…FOR MUCH OF
SPRING 2012 WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESENCE OF A PATTERN MORE LIKE
EARLY SUMMER…WITH WARMER AND DRIER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS
ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHEAST. A BLOCKING PATTERN IN THE NORTHERN
ATLANTIC HAS MOVED THE POLAR/SUBTROPICAL JETS FURTHER NORTHWARD
ALLOWING FOR AN EXPANSIVE RIDGE/HIGH PRESSURE TO REMAIN IN PLACE
OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN CONUS FOR MUCH OF THE SEASON…WITH LITTLE
CHANCE OF MOVING IT OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WHILE THIS PATTERN CHANGE HAS CERTAINLY REDUCED THE THREAT FOR
SEVERE WEATHER IN ALABAMA, IT ALSO HAS BEEN CONDUCIVE FOR SHORT
TERM DROUGHT, WHICH WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE BETTER WITHOUT.
WHILE WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE WITH A MUCH MORE FAVORABLE 2012
SPRING SEASON THUS FAR…EVEN WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A REDUCED
THREAT…IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN VIGILANT AS WE CLOSE OUT THE
SPRING PEAK TORNADO SEASON IN ALABAMA, WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE END
OF MAY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS INFORMATION, PLEASE
CONTACT WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST JOHN DE BLOCK AT
(205) 621-5645 EXT 223, OR BY E-MAIL TO JOHN.DEBLOCK@NOAA.GOV.
JD/02
May 1 To Feel More Like June 1
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SPRING HEAT WAVE: Temperatures at 2:00 around Alabama include 90 at Montgomery, 89 at Tuscaloosa, and 87 at Birmingham and Anniston… right at forecast levels for today. The sky is generally sunny, with scattered clouds over the northern counties. Nothing is showing up on radar, and we will stay dry tonight.
REST OF THE WEEK: A 5880 meter 500 millibar ridge will hold over the Gulf Coast states, keeping us very warm, and mostly dry. We might see a few isolated showers or storms tomorrow afternoon, mainly over the northern quarter of Alabama, but even they should be few and far between. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday look dry with a good supply of sunshine on all three days. Afternoon highs will remain in the 86 to 90 degree range; the average high for early May is around 79 degrees.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: The core of the upper ridge is forecast to move west of Alabama over the weekend, but our weather stays very warm with highs remaining somewhere between 86 and 90 degrees. We will have a light northwest flow aloft, and weak ripples in that flow might trigger a shower or two somewhere, but widespread rain is not likely… just a slight risk of any one spot getting wet Saturday and Sunday with a partly sunny sky both days. It will feel more like June instead of May.
NASCAR fans will need the sunscreen this weekend at Talladega for sure.
LONG RANGE: Still evidence from the GFS of an upper trough forming over the eastern third of the nation in the May 10-15 time frame that will bring a cooler pattern. And, on the positive side, no sign of any severe weather issues here for the next two weeks, but on the negative side, prospects for a big, beneficial rain event don’t look good either. See the Weather Xtreme video for details and all of the graphics that go along with this discussion.
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. We will record this week’s show at 8:30 CDT tonight… you can listen live via uStream.
CONNECT: You can find me on all of the major social networks…
I had a great time today at Moundville and Riverchase Elementary Schools… be looking for those kids on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 and 6:00 on ABC 33/40 News! The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…
Summer Preview Continues
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.
CLOSE TO RECORD LEVELS TODAY: On this last day of April, the record high for Birmingham is 91 degrees, set in 1943. I don’t think we break that record, but we will be close today with a high between 87 and 90 degrees for most locations across North and Central Alabama. An upper ridge should keep us dry with a good supply of sunshine.
REST OF THE WEEK: The upper ridge isn’t going anywhere, meaning most of the storms in association with the mid-latitude westerlies will remain north of here. We also note a tropical disturbance around the Bahamas, that has potential to bring lots of rain to far South Florida, but again that won’t be a factor here. Bottom line is that our weather stays very warm, and generally dry with highs in the upper 80s. We might see a little pop-up shower or storm somewhere along the way, but widespread rain just isn’t going to happen in this pattern.
WEEKEND PEEK: No real reason for any weather changes on Saturday and Sunday. The upper ridge will keep temperatures in the upper 80s to near 90 Saturday and Sunday with a good supply of sunshine both days; looks like most places stay dry. Great weather for NASCAR fans coming into Talladega for race weekend. Bring the sunscreen; it will feel more like June.
RAIN SITUATION: The rain total since January 1 at the Birmingham Airport is 14.84″, which is exactly four inches below average. Unfortunately it looks like this deficit will grow larger over the next week or so.
AT THE BEACH: Lots of sunshine for the Gulf Coast between Panama City and Gulf Shores today and tomorrow with highs in the low to mid 80s. Showers and storms are possible Wednesday and Thursday, but the weather will be drier by Friday and the weekend with a good supply of sunshine all three days. The sea water temperature this morning at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is 74 degrees.
LONG RANGE: The GFS does show temperatures backing down to average levels in the May 10-15 time frame with an upper low/trough forming over the eastern third of the nation. Unfortunately, no real sign of any major rain event, however. See the Weather Xtreme video for details and all of the graphics that go with this discussion.
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. We will record this week’s episode tonight at 8:30 p.m. CDT. Legendary severe weather researcher Chuck Doswell will join us.
CONNECT: You can find me on all of the major social networks…
I have weather programs today at Moundville Elementary in Hale County, and Riverchase Elementary in Hoover. Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so this afternoon. Enjoy the day….
