Scattered To Numerous Showers/Storms Through Friday, Then Drier
RADAR CHECK: As expected, we have a number of showers and thunderstorms across Alabama this afternoon in the moist, unstable airmass in place. The most widespread rain is in a broad band from Tuscaloosa and Birmingham to Montgomery and Phenix City at mid-afternoon; heavier storms are producing torrential rain, and a flash flood watch remains in effect for much of North and Central Alabama through tonight. Temperatures are in the 70s where rain is falling… we see low to mid 80s elsewhere.
Rain will taper off late tonight, but showers will remain possible in spots after midnight.
REST OF THE WEEK: Don’t expect much change tomorrow through Friday. More clouds than sun, and scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms on a daily basis. Highs will be generally in the low to mid 80s, almost ten degrees below average for late July in Alabama. And, like today, some isolated flooding issues are possible where the heavier downpours develop thanks to the saturated soil conditions.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A pattern flip begins, as an upper ridge starts to build across the Deep South. This means increasing amounts of sun, fewer showers, and higher heat levels. The chance of any one spot getting wet Saturday is 25-30 percent, and then around 20 percent Sunday afternoon. The high Saturday will be close to 90, followed by low 90s Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: The upper ridge will stay in place, meaning the trend toward hotter and drier weather will continue. Each day we will experience a good supply of sunshine with highs up in the low 90s, maybe even mid 90s in spots. You always have the risk of a pop-up storm on a hot summer afternoon around here, but they should be few and far between. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: All remains quiet across the vast Atlantic basin, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.
HOW DOES THIS JULY COMPARE? Birmingham’s official rain total yesterday was 2.24″. Not a daily record… the record rain for July 19 came in 1897 when the total was 2.95″.
The total for July is up to 6.07″. Are we headed for the wettest July on record? Probably not even close. Here are our wettest months of July on record since 1900…
July 1916 20.12″
July 1950. 13.70″
July 1910. 10.80″
July 1941 10.33″
July 1961 10.17″
July 1985 10.07″
ON THIS DATE IN 1915: A record high temperature of 115 degrees occurred in Yosemite Valley at the National Park Headquarters, California (around 4,000 feet elevation). This reading was the warmest day in a streak of 7 consecutive days of 110 degrees or higher at Yosemite Valley from the 19th through the 25th.
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Look for my next Weather Xtreme video here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
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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