Major Storm Developing To The West

An all new edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video is available in the player below. You can subscribe to the Weather Xtreme video on iTunes by clicking here.

THIS MORNING: Temperatures are well above freezing this morning across Alabama with increasing clouds and a south wind ahead of a big time pre-Christmas storm system developing to the west. We might see a few scattered showers over West Alabama later today or tonight, but most of the day will be dry.

TO THE WEST: See the Weather Xtreme video and you will see this is a very messy storm that impact much of the nation, so travelers beware. The heaviest snow will fall in a band from the plains of Colorado to Minnesota; blizzard conditions are likely over parts of Nebraska and South Dakota where travel will be difficult if not impossible. And, in the warm sector, SPC maintains their standard risk of severe weather (slight risk) for parts of East Texas, East Oklahoma, West Arkansas, and Louisiana later today and tonight. Flash flood watches are up from Shreveport to Chicago.

CHRISTMAS EVE SOAKING: The main band of rain and storms should impact Alabama generally in the 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight time frame tomorrow and tomorrow night. The NWS in Huntsville has issued a flash flood watch, and we expect 1 to 2 inches of rain statewide, with isolated amounts to three inches. SPC has a slight risk of severe weather up for the southwest corner of Alabama, and the southern half of Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana. Computer models continue to show no surface based instability up here, so that should prevent a major severe weather problem. But, when it comes to thunderstorms expect the unexpected, so we will be watching the radar closely.

SANTA NEEDS TO HANG ON TO HIS HAT: We should note pressure gradient winds will really ramp up tomorrow; with southeast winds averaging 15 to 30 mph, with higher gusts. As the ground becomes soaked, this could mean some downed trees and power lines tomorrow night. Not exactly the kind of night you want on Christmas Eve, but you have to take what you get.

A COLD CHRISTMAS: The rain will end late tomorrow night, and our weather turns sharply colder Christmas Day. The NAM suggests we hover around 40 degrees all day with air coming down over the big snow pack up north. If the front is slower, temperatures will fall to near 40. One way or another, it will be a cold and breezy day with lingering clouds. Bundle up when you take the first drive on those new bikes.

The cold air stays in place on Saturday and Sunday with highs only in the 40 to 45 degree range. Both days will feature a mix of sun and clouds.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND: A more classic El Nino Gulf storm will impact Alabama around the middle of next week, and in this pattern there is always the chance of some winter weather mischief on the northern periphery of the big precipitation shield. No way to determine who gets rain and who gets snow this far out; like last week we will make the call late in the weekend. If we get no snow next week, there will be more chances New Year’s weekend and the following week. The January 2-3 period looks especially interesting; watch the Weather Xtreme video for details on long range ideas.

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 30 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. You can even listen here on the blog; look for the player on the top left. We will release another new show on Christmas Day featuring Dr. Joe Schaefer, the retiring director of the Storm Prediction Center. This week’s episode features Joe Bastardi of AccuWeather, and Todd Foisy of the NWS in Anchorage, Alaska.

FOLLOW ALONG: Here are our weather team Twitter accounts….

Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 this afternoon… we will go on holiday schedule tomorrow. Enjoy the day!

Category: Uncategorized