Storms Still Possible Today; Drier Tomorrow

MUGGY MORNING: The radar is quiet early this morning across Alabama, but humidity levels remain sky high, and we expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms by afternoon, thanks to the daytime heating process and an approaching surface front. Chance of any one spot getting wet later today is in the 50/60 percent range, and the high will be close to 90 before storms develop.

TOMORROW THROUGH FRIDAY: The front is expected to drift down into Central Alabama tomorrow morning, meaning drier air for the northern counties of the state. Most of the scattered showers and storms tomorrow should be south of a line from Livingston to Clanton to Roanoke; north of that line showers should be few and far between. The high tomorrow will be around 90. Thursday and Friday look quiet as dry air will be in place over much of the state… showers will remain very isolated with a good supply of sunshine both days. Afternoon highs will be in the 90s.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND THE WEEKEND: Another front will bring the next chance of organized showers and storms late Friday night into at least part of the day Saturday. The latest GFS suggests the main window for thunderstorms will come from about 12:00 midnight Friday night through 12:00 noon Saturday. Then, another shot of drier air rolls into Alabama by Saturday night and Sunday. So, at this point Sunday looks generally dry with only a small risk of a shower. Highs over the weekend should be in the 87-90 degree range.

NEXT WEEK: Global models suggest relatively dry weather will continue into Monday and Tuesday of next week with only isolated showers; moisture levels will rise over the latter half of the week with scattered showers and thunderstorms becoming more numerous. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin remains quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.

ON THIS DATE IN 1980: Alabama and much of the southern U.S. was broiling in one of the greatest heat waves of all time. It still rates as one of the hottest Alabama summers on record. In the month of July alone, there was an estimated 120 heat-related deaths along with the loss of more than 200,000 chickens and half the state’s corn crop. The hottest day of the summer was July 17th when over 80 percent of the state reached 100 degrees, and nearly one quarter of the state reached 105. The highest reading on that day was 108 degrees recorded in the cities of Bessemer, Aliceville, and Jasper. It was 105 in Birmingham that day.

Around the nation, the heat wave claimed anywhere between 1,250 and 10,000 lives. Also because of the massive drought, agricultural damage estimates totaled over $50 billion when adjusted for inflation. It is among the billion-dollar weather disasters listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.

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I will be speaking today to the senior adults at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Jasper… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 4:00 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!

Tags: ANC, scattered storms

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos