Important Resources
Since it has been a while since we have really had a significant severe weather threat, here are some resources that you should note. Of course, the blog here is our primary way of communicating with you when we are not on TV… but here are some other services:
*Live streaming Pinpoint Doppler Radar: ABC 33/40 owns a Doppler Radar system atop Double Oak Mountain in northern Shelby County (most stations use a feed from the National Weather Service). You can watch our radar anytime on the live stream. Just go to the main ABC 33/40 Weather page, and click on the “watch live 24/7″ button on the right side of the page. You can watch as we work with the radar in the weather office. When the video box comes up, you can right click on the video, and put it in the Real Player to make it any size you want, or even full screen.
*Streaming severe weather coverage: Needless to say, if are on ABC 33/40 with continuous tornado coverage, that live stream will change from radar only, to our live coverage. Occasionally we will jump on the live stream even when we are not on television; we post notes here on the blog when that happens.
*E-Warn: Get warnings on your cell phone, or by e-mail with our free E-Warn service. Sign up here.
*Weather toolbox: Here is an assortment of good weather links we use in the office, and might be helpful to you, especially if you are meteorologically inclined…
*ABC 33/40 Skywatcher program: If you want to be part of our large team of Skywatchers that are with us via an Instant Message conference online in real time, go here to read more about the program. We are especially interested in those of you who live in rural areas, where reports are hard to find!
January 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am
What temps and dew points are indicative of severe weather?
January 10th, 2008 at 10:51 am
The link to the “live 24/7″ radar in real player keeps showing a socket error???
January 10th, 2008 at 10:52 am
At this time of year, temps in the 60′s or 70′s will definately aide severe weather, while the main cause of severe weather will require for multiple parameters to be met, high temps can escalate the threat. The dew point when reaching the mid and upper 60′s into the 70′s will also aide in the risk of severe weather. I am by no means a weather guru but these seem to be the parameters whenever severe weather happens.
January 10th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Here’s hoping the clouds stick around here in extreme North Alabama,although I have a feeling that it might not matter today…
January 10th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I just received a recorded call stating that Walker County schools are closing early. Anyone else hear of school closings already?
January 10th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Live stream isn’t working.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Chad, I can tell you that Lauderdale, Colbert, and Lawrence counties are all closing, in addition to Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia City school systems. Florence City Schools are NOT closing early, however.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:00 am
James, here also is a link to an informative page from the NWS/NSSTC at UAH here in Huntsville, which provides statewide realtime radar and warning info:
http://nsstc.uah.edu/alclimate/weatherwatch/wxwatch.php
January 10th, 2008 at 11:13 am
MS is lighting up with tornado warnings.. I counted 10 on the graphic I saw. Geez!
January 10th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Wow!!!! Is the atmosphere the same here as it is in Mississippi?
January 10th, 2008 at 11:22 am
sun is starting to come through at Sand Rock- seeing a little blue sky here and there
January 10th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Closing schools in rural areas…. let me say it before James does. What a boneheaded decision!!!!!!
January 10th, 2008 at 11:27 am
check the Mississippi radar and warning maps, getting covered up with Tornado Warnings!
January 10th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Tornado Watch in effect for most of us until 7:00.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:34 am
The school closings are a direct response the the litigation under way after Enterprise. The school boards figure that they are less likely to get sued if they do not have direct responsibility for the students when the weather hits.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Lots of tornado warnings around Jackson, ms right now. For the love of Pete yall, stay aware today in AL of the situation. Pray for a bust…
January 10th, 2008 at 11:46 am
All Cullman City & County schools close @ 12:30 today. To Godwingdave, I do understand your remark….but I have also been on the otherside of that issue also. Let me explain, several years ago the Cullman County schools would NOT stop the buses from running as scheduled at 3PM because (Cullman County) was not under a severe weather threat at that time….but it was coming fast….it was already just inside Walker County with a tornado warning. Our home is 20 miles from the school & near the Walker County line. I had to leave work to get my kids so that they would not be in the middle of that threat. There was quite a bit of damage from that system in Blount that day…….so having said that, sometimes staying at school is good….& sometimes it’s not good for those who have to keep their kids out of harms way. Once I had picked up one child at the elementary school, & was getting the other one at the high school, they then decided to stop some of the buses while others had already departed. I had to stop my vehicle & take cover with the kids in a nearby building because we were going to be in the middle of an F1 just up the road on Hwy 91 heading west into the very storm that I was trying to keep them out of.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Do you know if Cherokee County Schools will be closing early today
January 10th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Teach at Sand Rock- we have not heard anything about schools closing early here.