Midday Nowcast: Big HEAT Means Big STORMS

ANOTHER SWELTERING DAY: A Heat Advisory and the risk of severe storms remain in the forecast the rest of today across Alabama. Heat index values will be over 105° this afternoon, while some portions of Central Alabama are included in an Excessive Heat Warning where heat index values will be over 110°.

A band of storms, associated with a surface boundary, is slowly drifting southward today, and the SPC has a “slight risk” of severe thunderstorms defined today for all of North Central Alabama as far south as Greensboro, Montgomery, and Eufaula. A “marginal risk” extends are far south as Thomasville, Chapman, and Dothan.

Stronger storms this afternoon and tonight will be capable of producing strong straight line winds and possibly some small hail. Of course all summer storms produce tremendous amounts of lightning, and torrential tropical downpours which can lead to areas of flash flooding. The radar is mainly quiet this morning, with the exception of a few showers over West Alabama, but we are watching storms to our northwest as they will slide into Alabama later today. Additional storms will develop ahead of this complex as well. Remain weather aware later today, as storms will pack a punch.

WEEKEND WEATHER: Showers and storms should linger tomorrow morning over North Alabama, but by the afternoon the activity will shift into the southern counties as dry air begins to push into the state. A “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe thunderstorms is defined roughly from I-20 south as the boundary moves down into the central and southern portions of the state.

Heat levels will drop tomorrow with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Break out the jackets as temperatures drop into the 60s early Sunday morning with a clear sky and dry air in place, and the day will be mostly sunny and less humid with a high around 90°.

NEXT WEEK: For now the week looks fairly quiet with mostly sunny days with isolated afternoon showers or storms. Rain chances will be in the 20-30% range daily, and highs highs will be in the low to mid 90s, which are pretty much what we expect for late July in Alabama.

IN THE TROPICS: We still have Don in the Open Atlantic, with winds of 50 mph, it is no threat to the U.S. In the Central Tropical Atlantic Invest (95L) is a small area of low pressure, located several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, is producing an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the central tropical Atlantic. Environmental conditions appear generally conducive for some gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form in the next several days, as it moves westward across the tropical Atlantic. Formation chance through 7 days…medium…40 percent.

BEACH FORECAST CENTER: Get the latest weather and rip current forecasts for the beaches from Fort Morgan to Panama City on our Beach Forecast Center page. There, you can select the forecast of the region that you are interested in visiting.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 121.6F at Ahwaz, Iran. The lowest observation was -106.4F Dome C, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 123F at Death Valley, CA. The lowest observation was 34F at Mackay, ID.

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