Scattered Storms Today; Late May Heat Wave Later This Week

We are heading into a late May heat wave here in Alabama, and increasing dryness as well. Meanwhile, we will be watching a significant severe weather outbreak over the Plains states on Monday, and the possibility of an early season tropical storm near Bermuda. There might be a few storms across the state today and tonight, but high pressure will take over by Tuesday.

BREEZY SUNDAY: We are starting off fairly comfortably across Alabama, with temperatures generally in the lower and middle 60s. Dewpoints are still manageable, in the 59-61F range. But humidities will be increasing through the morning from the west, as well as cloudiness. And a southerly wind will be picking up through the day as well. This is all in response to low pressure moving through the Midwest. Leftover convection from overnight storms in Texas and Louisiana has weakened as it progressed eastward overnight and rain into hostile conditions. A few showers may work into western Alabama this morning, but they will likely fall apart. Additional storms could form across the Northwest this morning, and in areas southeast of I-59 through the afternoon and evening hours as a wave moves across the state. Highs this afternoon will be in the lower and middle 80s north of I-59, with upper 80s and lower 90s to the southeast. Lows tonight will be in the middle and upper 60s.

MONDAY: There could be a few showers hanging around Monday as the wave slides to the east. Sunshine will increase during the day, and highs will be in the middle and upper 80s once again.

SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK MONDAY IN SOUTHERN PLAINS: We will be watching Oklahoma and North Texas on Monday as a significant severe weather outbreak appears to be in the offing. Temperatures in the 80s, dewpoints in the afternoon 70s, and a strong upper-level trough will create instabilities over 4,000 joules/kg late Monday across that area. Add in Winds over 125 knots at the jet stream level, 500 millibar winds of nearly 100 knots and a low-level jet of that 50-60 knots, and you have the recipe for big storms. Backed surface winds will be the kicker and the main threat will be long-track tornadoes. Needless to say, people in that part of the country are checking their shelters and disaster kits today.

HIGH PRESSURE AND HEATING UP: As high pressure builds over the Southeast, the mercury will soar. Highs will be above 90 degrees each day, starting on Tuesday. Expect lots of sunshine and hot temperatures right on into the Memorial Day weekend.

BACKDOOR FRONT FOR MEMORIAL DAY: High pressure over the top of the original weakening high pressure to the east will push a backdoor cold front towards Alabama on Memorial Day. This seems to happen late in the spring almost every year. The backdoor front will bring slightly cooler temperatures, but only enough to drop the mercury back to near 90F. Still hot for late May.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS: The quarter to one-half inch of rain that may fall through noon Monday across Central Alabama may well be all that we see for the next ten days. We continue to maintain a surplus in the rainfall department across much of Central Alabama, but parts of Bibb, Shelby, northern Chilton, Talladega and Cleburne counties are starting to need rainfall. We are in good shape in the drought department still across the state, but that could change fairly quickly in coming days.

NEXT RAIN CHANCE: It looks like a pattern change will bring us rainfall around the 31st through the 2nd. Keep your fingers crossed.

GREAT WEATHER FOR BASEBALL: Great baseball is coming to the Hoover Met for the annual SEC baseball pilgrimage. And fantastic weather is in store. It will be dry and warm for the entire tournament. No threat of rain or severe weather.

SEC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: The 2019 SEC Baseball Tournament takes place on May 21-26 at the Hoover Met. Don’t miss some of the best baseball in the country as the top-12 teams will battle it out in Hoover on the road to Omaha. Join us for the indoor FanFest which is free to the public, open each day of the tournament and fun for all ages. Single-session tickets are $18 each for adults and $9 each for kids 3-12. Bleacher seats are first-come, first-served in the General Admission sections. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!!!

BEACH WEATHER: Lots of folks heading to the beautiful beaches of Alabama and Northwest Florida for the holiday weekend ahead. A few showers will affect the coast tomorrow, but the remainder of the week will be graced with some of the most gorgeous weather that you can expect along the coast. Highs will be in the upper 80s. Lows will be in around 70F. Water temperatures are already quite warm, running around 81F. There will be a high rip current risk today along the beaches.

TROPICS: A disturbance several hundred miles southwest of Bermuda may develop into a subtropical or tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours before conditions become unfavorable for development. Showers and gusty winds may affect the island.

WEATHERBRAINS: This week, the panel will entertain a panel of Big Brains to talk about communicating weather messaging. 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 1995: Devastating flooding in the historic downtown section of beautiful Hot Springs AR resulted from over 13 inches of rain in just nine hours. Serious flooding occurred downtown along Central Avenue. Water was released from Lake Hamilton and raced downstream to Remmel Dam. Many houses and cabins, which had been swept away by the floodwaters, were swept over the dam!

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS