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A Detailed Look at the Severe Weather Threat for Later Today Across Central Alabama

| April 22, 2018 @ 8:27 am

Rainy and stormy is the word for Alabama for this Sunday as a big bowling ball of an upper level low and its corresponding trough moves towards Alabama with its attendant lift and moisture. Showers are already moving across the state this morning. Since we can now see the whites of this system’s eyes, let’s look at timing, rainfall amounts, severe weather threat, etc.

RADAR ROOM: Checking the radar 8:30 on Sunday morning, we see showers already occurring across Nthe Tennessee Valley of North Alabama with heavier rain moving across Mississippi. Rain will continue to increase in coverage and intensity through the morning and into the afternoon. You will hear occasional thunder as well.

RAIN AND STORMS: In fact, rainfall will become widespread by afternoon, with a little thunder mixed in for all areas except Northeast Alabama, where a bit of an easterly wedge is keeping things more stable.

THE THREAT AREA: Severe weather should be limited to areas south of a line from Reform in Pickens County to Tuscaloosa to Clanton and Auburn. The presence of a mesolow and stronger main surface low has increased the threat of a few brief tornadoes from low-topped supercell thunderstorms, along with a threat of damaging winds of 60 mph or greater.

TIMING: Storms could become severe along a northward moving warm front by early afternoon, say 2 p.m. Rain will be heavy at times through this evening, with the heaviest rain and storms pushing east of I-65 by 11 p.m. The severe weather threat should be over for East Alabama by 2 a.m. After that, the rain will diminish slowly through the overnight hours.

WINDY AND COOL: It will become breezy during the day today, with southeasterly and easterly winds averaging 15-25 mph and occasionally gusting to above 35 mph. A wind advisory is in effect for areas north and east of Birmingham. With highs in the 60s for the most part, it will feel rather chilly today. Over Northeast Alabama, highs won’t get out of the 50s

RAINFALL AMOUNTS: When the dust settles, rainfall amounts will be generally 1-2 inches with some isolated 3 inch amounts. This should not cause flooding. It is hard to pin down which areas will receive the heaviest rainfall. It could be rather varied, based on where heavier bands of rain set up.

HONDA INDY GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA: The racers will be driving in the rain today at Barbers. But strap on the rain gear and go out and enjoy some of the finest racing in the world. If you hear thunder, seek safe shelter as you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Kids 15 & under are admitted free with a ticketed adult, and three-day general admission tickets are $69. Single day tickets are $15. Pack a picnic/cooler and bring the family out for a weekend full of activities and racing! GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!!! We have a forecast page set up for it on the blog, click here to check it out.

NEW WORK WEEK: The back edge of the rain will be pushing slowly eastward through East Alabama during the morning tomorrow but probably won’t exit completely into Georgia until after 10 a.m. Monday highs will be in the upper 60s areawide. Skies will remain mostly cloudy, with generally only a few peeks of sunshine.

THE WEEK OF TROUGHS: By Tuesday, the lows will be pushing east of Alabama. Skies will be mostly cloudy Tuesday with a few showers possible. Highs will be in the upper 60s. By Wednesday, another trough will be sliding east out of the central Plains states. This means another round of potential showers. The trough will be east of Alabama by Thursday, with any lingering showers remaining rather light. The first total dry day may not come until Saturday.

GULF COAST WEATHER: Rain should exit late today along the beautiful beaches of Alabama and Northwest Florida and it will be springlike all week along the coast. Highs will be in the 70s and lows around 60F each morning. Water temperatures are around 73F.

Click here to see our Beach Forecast Center page.

WEATHERBRAINS: This week, the team will talk to Ben Pringle and Jay Prater from Wichita. Check out the show at www.WeatherBrains.com. You can also subscribe on iTunes. You can watch the show live at live.bigbrainsmedia.com You will be able to see the show on the James Spann 24×7 weather channel on cable or directly over the air on the dot 2 feed.

ON THIS DATE IN 1997: Midafternoon F2 tornado struck the small northeast Alabama town of Rainsville without warning, injuring 12 people. Over 30 homes were damaged by the twister and 50 buildings in the small town received damage, including the city and police and fire stations. No tornado warning was in effect at the time of the storm since NWS Doppler radar did not show significant signs of storm rotation. Ironically, a more powerful Doppler radar was being prepared for installation, very near the location of the tornado ay Hytop in Madison County. Follow my weather history tweets on Twitter. I am @wxhistorian at Twitter.com.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS

About the Author ()

Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorian

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