Today will be another hot one across North and Central Alabama. A few isolated showers will show up this afternoon as moisture levels start to increase, but don’t look for relief to affect more than about 1 in 20 locations today.
DRY AIR: Temperatures are generally between 90 and 97 degrees across Alabama this afternoon, but the air is very dry with dew points down in the 50s in many areas. At 2:30p CT the Shelby County Airport was up to 97 degrees, but the dew point was down to 51, making the relative humidity only 21 percent. Amazingly low for summer in Alabama. The sky is sunny, and there is no rain anywhere in the state. The sky will be clear tonight.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Not much change tomorrow; lots of sun with a high in the 90s… any showers will be confined to the far southern counties. Scattered storms will become more numerous over South Alabama Sunday, but most of North Alabama will stay dry with a partly to mostly sunny sky.
BLUE SKY: We have a fall-like sky over Alabama today, but summer-like temperatures. We are seeing mostly mid 90s at mid-afternoon, but the dew point at Birmingham has dropped to 61 degrees, with a relative humidity of only 32 percent. Earlier this week we had dew points in the 70s, making the heat oppressive.
SUNNY SUMMER DAYS: A dry airmass now covers most of Alabama, meaning humidity values will be lower over the next few days along with slightly cooler nights. Expect a good supply of sunshine on a daily basis through Saturday with lows 90s today and tomorrow, and mid 90s Saturday.
NOT AS HOT: As advertised, heat levels are down over the northern half of Alabama this afternoon. Temperature are generally between 88 and 94 with a partly sunny sky. To the south, strong thunderstorms continue to drift slowly southward over the southern quarter of the state. SPC maintains a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe storms for South Alabama through the evening hours.
NOT AS HOT: Understand every day in August in Alabama is hot. Today will be hot, but not nearly as hot as recent days thanks to a surface front that moved through overnight. The high today will be in the low 90s over North/Central Alabama, about ten degrees “cooler” than yesterday.
TO THE NORTH: A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for much of Middle Tennessee, and strong storms will likely drop into North Alabama tonight ahead of a surface front. SPC has the Tennessee Valley of far North Alabama in a “slight risk” (level 2/5) tonight, with a “moderate risk” down to Tuscaloosa, Sylacauga, and Roanoke. The main threat will come from strong straight line winds.
ANOTHER HOT AUGUST DAY AHEAD: Alabama’s weather won’t change much today; the sky will be partly to mostly sunny, and most communities will see a high in the upper 90s this afternoon. NWS continues an “excessive heat warning” for West Alabama, with a “heat advisory” for the rest of the state due to the high heat index values expected. A few afternoon showers are possible, but they should be few and far between.
HOT AFTERNOON: Temperatures are generally in the 93-98 degree range across Alabama this afternoon with a partly sunny sky. We have a few widely scattered showers and storms on radar in areas south and east of Birmingham this afternoon; they are moving very slowly, and will dissipate after sunset.
HOT IS THE WORD: Based on data at Birmingham, the hottest temperature so far this summer is 97 degrees, recorded on July 6, July 9, August 7, and yesterday (August 11). We are projecting highs in the upper 90s today and tomorrow, and most likely it will be the hottest weather of the summer for many Alabama communities. A heat advisory is in effect for much of the state due to elevated heat index values.
Heat advisories continue in effect throughout the weekend, but it may get even hotter to start the work week. Will we have any afternoon showers to possibly cool us off?
RADAR CHECK: An organized band of thunderstorms is pushing into West Alabama at mid-afternoon; these storms are moving slowly to the east/southeast, and are producing heavy rain, gusty winds, and lots of lightning. Other widely scattered showers and thunderstorms have developed across the central counties of the state. Away from the storms, temperatures are mostly in the 90-95 degree range with a mix of sun and clouds. Storms will fade away tonight after sunset.
DOG DAYS: The weather in August in Alabama is almost always hot and humid, and that is what we will be dealing with around here for the foreseeable future. Look for partly sunny days through the weekend with the usual daily round of “scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms”. Most of the storms come in random places between 12:00 noon and 10:00 p.m.
SCATTERED STRONG STORMS: Radar shows scattered, strong thunderstorms across Alabama this afternoon… the more numerous ones are south of I-20, and are producing strong gusty winds and lots of lightning as they move southeast. Away from the storms, we have a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s.
SUN, HEAT, STORMS: Our classic August weather pattern will continue through the weekend. Hot, humid, partly sunny days with “scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms”. Most of the storms will come from 12:00 noon until 10:00 p.m., but there is always the risk of a rogue late night or morning shower somewhere.
