Midday Nowcast: Feeling More Like Summer

SUMMER PREVIEW: It is a taste of summer this week across Alabama as highs surge into the upper 80s and lower 90s. Most of the week will remain dry, with mainly sunny days, and fair nights. Humidity levels begin to climb and by the end of the week, some showers and storms return to Alabama ahead of a weak front dropping in from the north.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For May 21st, the average high for Birmingham is 85° and the average low is 63°. The record high is 98° set in 1962, while the record low is 40° set in 1954. We average 0.15” of precipitation on this date, and the record value is 2.27” set in 2003.

ACROSS THE USA: A Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5) of severe thunderstorms is expected across the Midwest today, especially portions of Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois. Damaging winds, large hail and a few strong tornadoes are expected. A dangerous early season heat wave will continue this week and expand from south Texas through portions of the central Gulf Coast by this weekend.

SEC TOURNAMENT: The SEC baseball tournament is underway in Hoover, and runs through Sunday. The weather looks very favorable with partly to mostly sunny days, fair nights, and highs around 90 degrees. There is an outside risk of a brief passing shower or storm during the afternoon and evening hours Friday through Sunday, but otherwise the weather will be dry.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: Not much change. Hot, dry weather for the southern counties of the state; random, scattered, afternoon showers and storms for the northern half of the state. Nothing really widespread or heavy as rain chances will be in the 20-30% range. Highs will stay close to 90° all three days.

NEXT WEEK: A cold front has the potential to bring an increase in the number of showers and storms Monday night into Tuesday, followed by a drier airmass Wednesday through Friday. Highs drop into the low to mid 80s over the latter half of the week, and cooler spots over North Alabama will dip into the 50s. An unusually refreshing airmass for the end of May.

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 126.1F at Pendzikent, Tajikistan. The lowest observation was -102.5F at Vostok, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 114F at Rio Grande Village, TX. The lowest observation was 16F at Wahsatch, UT.

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Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS