Archive for June, 2012
An Excellently Drawn Set of Warnings
Here is a prime example of storm based warnings from the National Weather Service that work.
The NWS in Wakefield VA is drawing one large severe thunderstorm warning (yellow polygon) for the area that will be affected by the storm. A much smaller area is going to be impacted by a tornado that is on the ground (the red polygon of the tornado warning).
People outside the smaller red polygon are not going to have a tornado, but they aren’t receiving an unnecessary tornado warning. But they do have the potential to receive one inch or larger hail and damaging winds of 58 mph or greater.
Hats off to our National Weather Service friends for creating warnings like this. Our friends at the local office here are working hard to reduce false alarms while maintaining a high probability of warning.
Storm based warnings work as long as you have a way to receive them.
Tornadoes in Virginia
Two tornadoes are reported in Virginia now. One north of Richmond and another east southeast of Richmond heading toward Williamsburg.
Tornado warnings are in effect.
Record Territory
Today has been a scorcher across North and Central Alabama again.
Highs across the area included
107F Muscle Shoals (record)
106F Huntsville (UAH)
105F Huntsville (record)
104F Anniston (record); Calera; Decatur; Tuscaloosa (record)
103F Birmingham; Vinemont
102F Auburn
101F Montgomery; Cullman
100F Guntersville; Scottsboro; Ft.Payne
96F Valley Head
The high at Birmingham fell one degree short of the record for the date.
One hopeful sign: a couple of isolated storms formed this afternoon around 4 .m. over Sumter and Greene Counties in West Alabama. They didn’t last long and brought little relief. Another longer lived cell formed over Noxubee County MS around 5:30. It was still going at 7:45. We should see a couple of isolated storms tomorrow and their number should increase a bit by Tuesday and Wednesday. One can hope.
Dangerous Heat
NWS, Birmingham, continues an Excessive Heat Warning until 9 o’clock Sunday night. That is a good indication how serious our current heat wave is. Here is a roundup of official mid-afternoon temperatures from Alabama and nearby areas, along with the heat index.
ALABAMA
106 Muscle Shoals, heat index 108
103 Huntsville, heat index 104
103 Decatur, heat index 106
101 Tuscaloosa, heat index 106
101 Birmingham, heat index 103
102 Calera (Shelby County Airport) heat index 105
101 Montgomery, heat index 112
102 Anniston, heat index 105
102 Auburn, heat index 107
97 Evergreen, heat index 107
104 Eufaula, heat index 113
REGIONAL
104 Baxter, Tenn., heat index 124
105 Clarksville, Tenn., heat index 106
108 Old Hickory, Tenn., heat index 113
100 Tupelo, heat index 102
99 Starkville, Miss., heat index 101 (home of Mississippi State University)
100 Golden Triangle (Columbus) heat index 107
Early Afternoon Heat Update
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot!
1 p.m. temperatures and the difference from the same time yesterday:
Birmingham 100F (+2F)
Tuscaloosa 1001F (same)
Anniston 102F (+4F)
Muscle Shoals 103F (-1F)
Huntsville 102F (+1F)
It’s actually been 101F already at Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.
Highs will range between 100F and 106F.
Heat index values are running 102F-110F. Air and heat index values will rise another 3-5 degrees this afternoon.
The NWS has upgraded the heat advisory to an excessive heat warning through tomorrow evening for most of Central Alabama.
The chance of a cooling storm today is almost nil. The best chance would be over southwestern sections, south of Tuscaloosa.
LATE NOTE
John Talbot reports that Birmingham Fire is working a situation where power is out at a local retirement home and there is no air conditioning. Several residents are in distress. Power should be restored soon. Just another reminder of the danger from this heat.
