Clearing Later Today; More Strong Storms Tomorrow Afternoon
RADAR CHECK: Showers and a few thunderstorms persist across Alabama early this morning. So far they have been behaved with no severe weather issues… there is just a low end risk of a few storms with gusty winds and small hail over the next few hours. The sky will become partly to mostly sunny late this morning into the afternoon hours as a slot of dry air works into the state. Temperatures will likely exceed 80 degrees in most places this afternoon.
TOMORROW: The sky will be occasionally cloudy, and the air becomes very unstable by afternoon, much like a summer day. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will form in this environment… SPC has defined an “enhanced risk” (level 3/5) of severe storms for a few counties in West Alabama… there is a “slight risk” (level 2/5) as far east as Decatur, Ashland, Troy, and Foley… and a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) for the rest of the state.
Thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon could produce large hail and strong, potentially damaging winds. Highest threat of severe storms will come from 1:00 until 8:00 p.m. The high tomorrow will be in the upper 70s.
SATURDAY: An organized batch of showers and storms will push into Alabama after midnight tomorrow night into Saturday morning, and these storms could be strong to severe. SPC has much of the state in a marginal to slight risk.
The main window for severe storms will come from 4:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Saturday… during that time frame thunderstorms will be capable of producing large hail, strong, potentially damaging winds, and a tornado or two. On the positive side… Saturday afternoon looks rain-free for most of the state with a clearing sky and temperatures in the 70s.
Rain amounts between now and Saturday morning will be in the 2-3 inch range for much of Alabama, with heavier totals, perhaps to 4 inches, over the southwest corner of the state.
SUNDAY AND NEXT WEEK: Sunday will be dry… the sky will be partly to mostly sunny with a high in the mid 70s. For now, much of next week looks fairly quiet with no major rain producers. A few showers are possible Wednesday or Thursday with a weak front… See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.
ON THIS DATE IN 1998: A violent EF-5 tornado cut a 31-mile long, 3/4-mile wide swath through nine Birmingham suburbs including Oak Grove, Sylvan Springs, Rock Creek, Pleasant Grove, Concord, Pratt City, and Edgewater before lifting in the western limits of the City of Birmingham. The worst of the destruction occurred across the Oak Grove, Rock Creek, McDonald Chapel, and Pratt City communities.
Thirty-two people were killed in this tornado including three in Oak Grove, eleven near Rock Creek, four in Sylvan Springs, two in Wylam Heights, nine in Edgewater, two in McDonald Chapel and one in West Ensley.
The same parent storm would drop another tornado that killed two more people in St. Clair County near Wattsville.
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Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos