Midday Nowcast: A Generally Sunny and Hot May Day

SUNNY, MAY DAYS: A mainly sunny and hot day across Alabama with temperatures surging into the upper 80s and lower 90s this afternoon. More of the same tomorrow, but we will mention the chance for a few widely, scattered showers and storms across the northern third of the state tomorrow afternoon.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For May 22nd, the average high for Birmingham is 88° and the average low is 63°. The record high is 96° set in 1962, while the record low is 42° set in 1993. We average 0.13” of precipitation on this date, and the record value is 1.98” set in 1916.

ACROSS THE USA: Severe storms with large hail, wind damage and a few tornadoes will be likely today across the Southern Plains and ArkLaTex. Isolated severe storms will be possible today across the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes. 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: Dry weather continues in Hoover for the SEC baseball tournament today and tomorrow. A few random, scattered showers or storms are possible Friday through Sunday, but the weather will be dry most of the time with highs between 87 and 90 degrees. If a shower passes over the Hoover Met the rain should last around 30 to 45 minutes before it moves on.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: A weakening cold front drops into the state Friday, and we will mention the chance of “scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms” over the northern half of the state Friday and Saturday. Chance of any one spot getting wet is in the 30-40% range, and most of the showers and storms will occur during the afternoon and evening hours; 2PM-10PM

Sunday looks mostly dry, although again a few isolated afternoon showers can’t be totally ruled out. Another front, this one with more southward push and more support, will bring showers and storms to Alabama late Sunday night into Monday. Memorial Day won’t be a wash-out, and still a decent part of the day will be dry. But, where thunderstorms develop over North Alabama, they could be strong. Highs Friday through Monday will remain in the upper 80s and lower 90s.

NEXT WEEK: Showers and storms will linger into Tuesday, especially the morning hours, then the rest of the week will feature a cooler, drier airmass. Highs drop into the low 80s by Wednesday, and many North Alabama communities will dip into the 50s by Thursday and Friday morning.

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 119.1F at Jacobabad, Pakistan. 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 Berthoud Pass, CO.

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