Very Windy Christmas Eve

WWUS84 KBMX 231509
SPSBMX

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
908 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009

ALZ011>015-017>050-240000-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
908 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009

…DREAMING OF A WINDY CHRISTMAS EVE…

STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT IN RESPONSE TO A RAPIDLY
DEEPENING SURFACE LOW WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. BY SUNRISE ON
CHRISTMAS EVE SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS WILL BE BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MPH
WITH GUSTS APPROACHING 30 MPH. DURING THE DAY AS A COLD FRONT
APPROACHES FROM THE WEST THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO
TIGHTEN RESULTING IN SUSTAINED SPEEDS BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH WITH
GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. MAXIMUM WIND
GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG A SQUALL LINE EXPECTED TO
MOVE WEST TO EAST ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA BETWEEN 5 PM AND MIDNIGHT
ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL BE CAPABLE OF DOWNING NUMEROUS TREES…
AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN POWER OUTAGES. YARD FURNITURE…TRASH CANS
AND HOLIDAY DECORATIONS WILL EASILY BE BLOWN AROUND UNLESS
PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN TO SECURE SUCH ITEMS.

DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD ALSO BE DANGEROUS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA.
SOUTHERLY WIND WILL RESULT IN A CROSSWIND MAKING ROADWAYS ORIENTED
FROM WEST TO EAST ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES ARE
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE. WET ROADWAYS WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO
DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

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