Warm, Dry Tomorrow; Severe Storms Possible This Weekend

**No afternoon Weather Xtreme video today; I am live at Regions Field for the Birmingham Barons home opener**

WARMEST SO FAR: As expected, temperatures are in the mid 80s across most of Alabama this afternoon, and for most every community today is the warmest day so far in 2019. The weather won’t change much tomorrow; dry and very warm with a partly sunny… the high will be back in the 82-85 degree range. It will be breezy tomorrow with a south wind averaging 10-20 mph.

TO THE NORTHWEST OF ALABAMA: Heavy, wet snow will continue through tonight in Wyoming and South Dakota, while expanding across Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin tomorrow. Very heavy snow and strong winds will create blizzard conditions, and travel will be severely disrupted, becoming impossible at times.

TOMORROW NIGHT/FRIDAY: Clouds will increase tomorrow night, and a cold front will bring a chance of showers, and possibly a thunderstorm or two, to the state Friday. The front will have little upper support, and moisture will be fairly limited, so rain amounts should be fairly light (under 1/2 inch). The high Friday will be in the mid to upper 70s.

ACTIVE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND: A potent weather system will bring unsettled weather to Alabama this weekend. Friday’s front will lift northward, and rain is possible Friday night into early Saturday morning. But, new guidance continues to suggest that most of the day Saturday will be warm and dry with a mix of sun and clouds. We can’t totally rule out a shower or storm somewhere during the afternoon and evening hours as the air becomes unstable, but they should be widely spaced.

The main window for heavier thunderstorms across Alabama will come from around 12:00 midnight Saturday night through 3:00 p.m. Sunday. The threat begins in West Alabama late Saturday night, then gradually shifting into East Alabama Sunday morning. SPC has most of Alabama in a severe weather risk during the time, and it continues to look like all modes of severe weather will be possible. Large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.

It is important to note that this event is still 4/5 days out, and there is still considerable uncertainty concerning small scale features, making it difficult to determine the magnitude, timing, and placement of the threat. Expect forecast changes as we get closer to the weekend, but one way or another now is a good time to review your family severe weather plan. And, every church and house of worship needs to be sure they can hear tornado warnings (having a NOAA Weather Radio), and a good plan to get people into safe places in the event they come in a tornado warning polygon.

NEXT WEEK: Monday and Tuesday will be dry with cool mornings and pleasant afternoons (lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s). Another strong system could bring another severe weather setup to the state by Wednesday night and Thursday, but we need to get through the weekend system before we can focus on this one.

ON THIS DATE IN 1979: This day was known as “Terrible Tuesday” to the residents of Wichita Falls, Texas as a tornado rated EF-4 ripped through the city killing 43 persons and causing 300 million dollars in damage. Another tornado struck Vernon, Texas killing eleven persons. The same weather system would later bring severe river flooding to Alabama later in April 1979.

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I enjoyed seeing the children this morning at the School for Amazing Kids in Helena… be looking for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News! The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…

Tags: ANC, warm

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS