Storms Becoming More Numerous

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.

SUMMER SOLSTICE: While meteorological summer started back on June 1, the “official” arrival of summer is today. The solstice is at 12:16 p.m…. when the sun is over the Tropic of Cancer. This is the day with the greatest amount of daylight in the year, and the day with the most direct sun angle. After today, the days begin to “get shorter” in terms of the amount of daylight until the winter solstice just before Christmas.

RAIN CHANCES INCREASING: A vigorous upper trough has moved out into the middle part of the nation, and will beat down the upper ridge that has been so persistent in recent weeks. This will allow for a better coverage of showers and storms in the days ahead, and lowering heat levels.

While we are still projecting highs in the low 90s today, there is a chance we will stay below 90 tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday due to clouds and showers.

Keep in mind rain coverage in summer is not very even, so not everybody will get rain every day, but if you average the amounts between now and Friday, most communities should wind up with 1 to 2 inches. Models are hinting the best coverage of showers and storms will be tomorrow, when rain is possible at just about any time.

OUR WEEKEND: Not much change; there will be an overall weakness in the upper ridge still in place over the weekend, so expect a mix of sun and clouds Saturday and Sunday with a pretty decent chance of a few passing showers or thunderstorms. Look for a high both days around 90.

NEXT WEEK: Watch the Weather Xtreme video and you will see the GFS is showing a 5940 meter 500 mb upper high developing over North Texas early next week, with rising heights across Alabama. This should mean fewer showers and storms and more heat next week as the ridge gets stronger, but the ensembles continue to suggest the core of the hottest weather will remain west of Alabama through the rest of June and into July, with temperatures near or just above average values.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin remains quiet and tropical storm formation is not expected through mid-week. We do note some of the global computer models attempt to develop some kind of tropical low in the Gulf in about 6-8 days; we will keep an eye on trends.

AT THE BEACH: Like the weather up on this end of the state, the weather will turn unsettled along the Alabama and Northwest Florida Gulf coasts this week. Expect about 2-4 hours of sunshine each day through the upcoming weekend with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms each day. Highs will be mostly in the upper 80s along the immediate coast, with low 90s inland.

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. Scroll down for the show notes on the new episode we recorded last night.

FOLLOW ALONG: Here are our weather team Twitter accounts….

Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so this afternoon. Enjoy the day…

Tags: showers

Category: Alabama's Weather