Archive for July 19th, 2012
Strong Storms Tomorrow
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.
RADAR CHECK: So far showers and storms have been pretty much a no-show for much of Central and East Alabama, as most of the action has been close to the Mississippi border and points west. Flooding rains have been falling over South Mississipi and Southeast Louisiana over the past few hours, and those showers and storms are moving slowly to the south.
Temperatures are still below average for mid-summer… readings are generally in the 87-91 degree range at mid-afternoon.
However, new showers are forming over Shelby and Talladega Counties as I write this, and we will maintain a pretty decent chance of showers and storms through the evening hours as an unstable airmass remains over Alabama with high precipitable water value.
TOMORROW: SPC has expanded the “slight risk” of severe weather to include much of North and Central Alabama, and now they show a 30 percent enhancement over the northern third of our state. This means there is a 30 percent chance of severe weather within 25 miles of a given point tomorrow; the main threat will come from hail and strong, straight line winds. While most of the showers and storms tomorrow should come during the afternoon and nighttime hours, a morning shower can’t be ruled out with a surface front stalling out north of Alabama. Temperatures will rise to near 90 tomorrow if we see a decent amount of morning sun.
THE WEEKEND AND BEYOND: The air aloft will warm over the weekend, meaning a more stable atmosphere, and fewer showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. Most of them will be scattered, and during the afternoon and evening. Days will be partly sunny with a high in the low 90s. Look for similar weather early next week; the 12Z GFS suggests only isolated showers and storms around here Monday through Wednesday with potential for mid 90s on one or two afternoons.
See the Weather Xtreme video for graphics and details.
GULF COAST WEATHER: A good chance of showers and storms again tomorrow from Panama City to Gulf Shores, but the weekend should be brighter with 6 to 8 hours of sunshine both days and just the usual risk of scattered storms. Highs will be in the mid 80s tomorrow, followed by upper 80s Saturday and Sunday. The sea water temperature this afternoon at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is 83 degrees.
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 enjoyed seeing everybody at the Oxford Kiwanis Club today, along the kids in the summer program at the Friendship Community Center. Be looking for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…
Lightning On The Golf Course
Thanks to Rusty Howard, Founders Course Superintendent at the Greystone Golf Club, for these images… he writes…
“Attached is a couple of pictures of a lightning strike that you and your staff my find interesting.
Yesterday afternoon a bolt of lightning struck the ground about 20yds. in front of #18 green. Less than 5 minutes before this I instructed 8 employees that were on the green pushed cores from our aerification process to seek shelter at the clubhouse until the distant thunder and lightning left the area. Thank goodness no one was hurt. In the pictures, the large hole is a valve that controls the water to the green, the other holes are the entry and exit points of the bolt. We couldn’t get a picture while the hole was still smoking, but you could smell the burnt area. I was shocked that the mainline irrigation (10” in size) that this valve is attached to did not explode. What it did do was travel through our power and communication wires damaging at least some components or blowing fuses in every irrigation satellite(32 in all) on the course. The strike was so concentrated the energy traveled to the maintenance facility (3/4 of a mile away) destroying the breaker that delivers the power to the on course satellites.
I was always told growing up that you should never be on the telephone or taking a bath/ shower. If this is not proof than what is.”
Occasional Showers/Storms Through Tomorrow
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.
UNSETTLED SUMMER WEATHER: A very moist airmass sits on top of Alabama this morning with precipitable water values generally over two inches, and with the weak upper feature to the east we will maintain good potential for scattered to numerous showers and storms across our state today. Temperatures will struggle to reach 90 degrees; we note Birmingham’s official high yesterday was only 82, with three degrees of the record low maximum temperature for July 18 (79 set in 1906).
The radar this morning shows a cluster of strong storms over eastern Mississippi to near the Alabama state line from Macon down to Meridian; those are dropping south. Expect showers to show up deeper into Alabama later this morning, with the stronger storms coming this afternoon.
TOMORROW: We note that SPC has introduced a “slight risk” of severe weather for about the northern third of Alabama; this is due to the impact of an approaching surface from the north. The air should be fairly unstable tomorrow, so any storms that fire up, especially during the afternoon, will pack a punch with potential for some small hail and strong gusty winds.
With all summer rain events the distribution is not very even, but most Alabama communities stand a good chance of seeing over one inch of rain over the next 48 hours, and some places could see much more than that where the stronger storms develop.
OUR WEEKEND: Heights rise, and temperatures aloft will be a bit warmer, so we still expect showers and storms to slowly thin out Saturday and Sunday as we get back to a more typical summer pattern. Expect partly sunny days with the risk of a few scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. The high both days should be at or just over 90 degrees.
And, that routine summer weather can be expected into at least the first half of next week. Still no sign of any serious heat issues for Alabama for the next 15 days… see the Weather Xtreme video for the details. The hottest weather in the nation remains over the heartland, from Oklahoma City to Wichita to Kansas City.
AT THE BEACH: A few passing showers and storms are likely for the Northwest Florida beaches today and tomorrow with only a limited amount of sunshine; the showers will be a little more scattered on the Alabama coast. But, the weekend looks better all the way from Panama City west to Gulf Shores with 6 to 8 hours of sunshine each day with the standard risk of scattered showers or storms. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s along the immediate coast. Sea water temperatures are generally in the mid to upper 80s.
TROPICS: All remains quiet across the Atlantic basin, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.
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 will be over in Oxford today to speak at the Kiwanis Club… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so this afternoon. Enjoy the day!
