Showers/Storms Popping Up

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Let’s take a quick look at the Alabama Weather Situation at the noon hour:

A very nice field of cumulus clouds has developed over the state early this afternoon. The clouds started to get some vertical development y late morning over Northeast Alabama. This area of enhancement is being caused by our old friend the Easterly Wedge. You know, that thing we dread in winter? Funny how things we dread in winter, like the Polar Vortex and the Easterly Wedge, seem to make us happy in summer.

The wedge is providing slightly drier air over the Carolinas which means fewer cumulus clouds. But the convergence on the nose of it over Appalachians is allowing for enhanced convective development and that means taller cumulus clouds and showers.

At noon, they are mainly over Cherokee and Etowah Counties, with development also occurring in the I-20 corridor from Birmingham to Heflin and down around Clay and Randolph Counties.

Starting to see lightning near Cedar Bluff and Centre as these storms grow to near 40,000 feet.

There will be frequent lightning, very heavy rain and gusty winds from the stronger storms. Can’t rule out an isolated severe storm, but significant severe weather is not expected.

Storms are already building over northeastern Arkansas and will build down into western Tennessee this afternoon and evening. They will push into northwestern Alabama this evening and Central Alabama overnight. There could be strong storms overnight as a strong cold front near Chicago comes our way.

POLAR VORTEX CHECK
Our upper low is centered over the arrowhead of Minnesota this afternoon. A spot check there finds that it is 52F with a cold rain in Bemidji, Minnesota and a northwest wind at 14 mph.

Category: Alabama's Weather