James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHANGES THIS WEEK: A blanket of moist air remains parked over Alabama today, and the radar is quiet this morning. Showers and storms will develop later today in scattered spots during the peak of the daytime heating process. We project a high today between 87 and 90 degrees for most communities.
FLOODING ISSUES FOR EAST ALABAMA: Very high precipitable water values, combined with a weak disturbance aloft led to slow moving thunderstorms developing over parts of Alabama this morning. Significant flooding was reported in Calhoun County.
MUST BE MID-SUMMER: All of the usual summer elements will remain in Alabama’s forecast through the weekend. Heat, humidity, and random, scattered showers and thunderstorms. Most (but not necessarily all) of the showers will come from 1:00 until 11:00 p.m., during the peak of the daytime heating process. Coverage of the rain should be highest tomorrow.
RADAR CHECK: We have your classic case of random, slow moving, scattered showers and thunderstorms across Alabama this afternoon. They are moving slowly to the east, and will fade tonight after sunset. Temperatures are mostly in the 85-90 degree range over the northern half of the state, but a few spots over South Alabama have reached the mid 90s.
SCATTERED STORMS FIRE UP AGAIN TODAY: We are in that time of the year when the weather forecast will mention “scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms” on a daily basis, and we will have them around again later today. Odds of any one spot getting wet today are around one in three; otherwise the sky will be partly sunny with a high generally in the low 90s.
RADAR CHECK: Showers and a few heavy thunderstorms are over East Alabama; at mid-afternoon some of the heaviest rain was falling in a band from Lincoln to Anniston to Heflin. And, new showers are developing over West Alabama in the very moist air over Alabama. Showers and storms remain possible through the evening hours; they fade later tonight once the sun sets. Away from the rain, temperatures are near 90, but many places are in the 70s and 80s due to clouds and showers.
HUMID SUMMER WEATHER: As this day begins we have a number of showers and storms in progress over Tennessee Valley and some northwest counties of Alabama as a very moist airmass remains in place. Showers and storms will slowly develop to the south and east today, and most communities across the northern half of the state stand a good chance of getting wet at time or two. Highs will be in the 80s with only a limited amount of sun; South Alabama will see low 90s.
RADAR CHECK: A band of strong storms is over Northwest Alabama this afternoon… lined up from near Muscle Shoals to Hamilton shorty after 3:00 p.m. The storms are producing gusty winds and heavy rain, and are moving only slowly to the east. The rest of the state is mostly sunny with temperatures between 89 and 92. Showers and storms over Northwest Alabama will fade away after sunset.
HEATING UP: Birmingham has remained below 90 degrees for three consecutive days, thanks to clouds from from former Tropical Storm Barry. But a good chance we rise into the low 90s today with a partly to mostly sunny sky. A few showers or storms are very possible this afternoon, but they should be very isolated, and mainly over the northwest counties of the state.
ON THE MAPS: The remnant circulation of Barry is over Arkansas this afternoon, and bands of tropical rain persist east of the system over Alabama. One batch of rain and storms is over the Tennessee Valley, and new development is over Central Alabama. Showers and thunderstorms are moving northward, and will diminish later tonight after sunset.
ON THE MAPS: The remnant circulation of former Tropical Storm Barry is over Arkansas, and Alabama remains on the wet, east side of the system. Deep moisture remains in place, and we expect a number of tropical showers today.
A brief, isolated tornado can’t be ruled out this afternoon or this evening west of I-65; we will watch radar trends closely. One reminder, tropical showers are low topped, and often these brief tornadoes can’t be detected by radar. Just be weather aware if you are in West Alabama.
A few notes this morning on Tropical Storm Barry… Sustained winds are now 70 mph, and on the forecast track, the center of Barry will make landfall along the south-central Louisiana coast during the next several hours.
RADAR CHECK: Tropical showers continue to increase across all of Alabama this afternoon as deep moisture is pulled northward on the east side of the circulation of Tropical Storm Barry in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The showers are moving slowly northward, and if you are under one you get heavy rain along with some lighting. We will maintain the chance of showers and thunderstorms across Alabama tonight.
OCCASIONAL TROPICAL DOWNPOURS: Tropical Storm Barry, with sustained winds of 50 mph, should make landfall tonight on the Louisiana coast, followed by a slow northward motion through Louisiana and eastern Arkansas. Alabama will stay on the wet, east side of the system, and we will deal with occasional showers and tropical downpours through early next week.
RADAR CHECK: Slow moving, strong thunderstorms continue to develop across Alabama this afternoon dumping heavy amounts rain, and producing gusty winds and lots of lightning. We will maintain the chance of showers and storms across the state tonight as moist air continues to feed into the state.
