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.
At 12:40 pm, the big story is the heat across Central Alabama.
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 index values are expected to reach 105F in many spots across Alabama on Monday. Proper precautions should be used to protect one against the heat.
A surge of drier air into northern Alabama is preventing the development of showers and storms this afternoon for the most part. They will be isolated and limited generally to areas south of I-20.
Heat advisories are in effect again today generally from Tuscaloosa to Clanton to Phenix City and for points near and south of that line. The heat threat will expand and intensify a bit on Monday and Tuesday, with excessive heat becoming even more of a problem.
It’s a hot and humid one out there… I know. I just got finished mowing the lawn. Temperatures are in the mid-80s to the lower 90s across the area.
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.
As of 11:10 am, radar is quiet across Central Alabama. It won’t be too long until we’ll start to see showers and thunderstorms pop up with the heating of the day, some of which could be strong to severe (more on that a little later in the post).
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.
Temperatures will range from 93 to 97 again Friday afternoon with heat index values between 105 and 107. Impacts of the high temperatures could cause heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
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.
At 12:50 pm, we have a few stronger storms out there across portions of Central Alabama, especially a severe thunderstorm over parts of Lee, Macon, and Tallapoosa counties.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
