A Blanket Of Moist Air Remains In Place This Week
MORE SHOWERS/STORMS LATER TODAY: The weather is fairly quiet across Alabama early this morning, but we are expect numerous showers and storms to form later today in the moist, tropical air in place, aided by an upper trough just to the west. The chance of any one spot getting wet today is 65-70 percent, and like recent days the stronger storms that form will produce heavy rain, gusty winds, and lots of lightning. With only a limited amount of sun, we expect a high today in the low 80s… the average high for Birmingham on July 12 is 91.
REST OF THE WEEK: We aren’t expecting much change tomorrow… the sky will be occasionally cloudy with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. Temperatures will remain well below average with a high in the low to mid 80s. Humidity levels stay high Wednesday through Friday, and showers and storms will continue to develop on these three days, but they should be a bit more scattered in nature as the air will be a bit more stable. Highs over the latter half of the week will be in the mid to upper 80s; chance of any one spot getting wet Wednesday through Friday will be in the 30-40 percent range.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Warm, humid weather will continue. We expect a mix of sun and clouds Saturday and Sunday with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mostly during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs will be in the 84-89 degree range, and the probably of any one location seeing rain both days will be in the 50-60 percent range. In other words, not much change.
NEXT WEEK: The upper air pattern won’t change much, and accordingly our weather won’t change much. Partly sunny, warm, humid days with the typical summer rounds of scattered showers and thunderstorms on a daily basis. Highs will remain below 90 degrees through the week for most communities… See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.
LOWER HEAT LEVELS THIS SUMMER: Temperatures have reached 90 degrees on only 10 days in Birmingham since June 1. The average high for June was 86 degrees, two degrees below average, and so far the average high for July is 87 degrees, which is three degrees below average. Our hottest temperature so far is 94, recorded on June 14. And, on the morning of June 23, the official low was 60, but many places across North/Central Alabama dropped into the 50-55 degree range.
We note the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) continues to forecast below average temperatures for the southern U.S. in their 8-14 day outlook, valid July 19-25.
TROPICS: All is quiet across the Atlantic basin thanks to dry air and subsidence (sinking air), and tropical storm formation is not expected at least for the next five days.
ON THIS DATE IN 1995: An intense heat wave affected much of the Midwest for a 4-day period beginning on this day. The worst effects of the heat were noted in the Chicago metropolitan area, where 583 people died from the heat. Temperatures across the region reached as high as 104 degrees, overnight lows on falling to the upper 70s to low 80s. Dew point temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s created heat indexes peaking at 125 degrees. Electricity and water usage reached record levels, causing periodic outages.
ON THIS DATE IN 1996: Hurricane Bertha makes landfall near Wrightsville Beach, NC with maximum winds of 105 mph, but the storm surge dealt the most devastation. The U.S. Virgin Islands, along with North Carolina, were declared federal disaster areas. Surveys indicate that Bertha damaged almost 2,500 homes on St. Thomas and St. John. For many, it was the second hit in the ten months since Hurricane Marilyn devastated the same area. The primary effects in North Carolina were to the coastal counties and included storm surge flooding and beach erosion, roof damage, piers washed away, fallen trees and damage to crops.
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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
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James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.Subscribe
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