Midday Nowcast: The Dog Days of Summer

| July 8, 2025 @ 10:16 am

INCREASING RAIN CHANCES: Today, rain chances remain in the 20-30% range across much of Alabama. It is hot everywhere with highs in the low to mid 90s. Any showers and storms today will be isolated in nature, with most of us staying day.

However, for the rest of the week, rain chances will increase to the 50-70% range, meaning scattered to perhaps numerous afternoon and evening showers and storms will be common across the Alabama landscape. Not everyone will see rain, due to the random nature of the storms, but where they occur, expects loads of lightning and tropical downpours, which can cause areas of isolated flash flooding. Highs the rest of this week will range from upper 80s to lower 90s. Though organized severe storms are not expected, we all know an isolated severe storm is certainly possible any afternoon during the summertime due to the high instability values. The main threat with stronger storms will be gusty winds.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For July 8th, the average high for Birmingham is 91° and the average low is 72°. The record high is 104° set in 1977, while the record low is 60° set in 1947. We average 0.17” of precipitation on this date and the record value is 1.69” set in 1968.

WEATHER RADAR MAINTENANCE: The National Weather Service radar in Tuskegee, AL (KMXX) will be offline for maintenance. Outage Time: July 8th through the 9th. Return to service is expected on the 9th. Weather Watch: There are several surrounding radar sites available should active weather materialize. At this time, general summertime convection is expected during the outage.

Also, The National Weather Service radar in Calera, AL (KBMX) will be offline for maintenance. Outage Time: July 11th through the 12th. Return to service is expected on the 12th. Weather Watch: There are several surrounding radar sites available should active weather materialize. At this time, general summertime convection is expected during the outage.

IN THE TROPICS: The Atlantic Basin is quiet, with no tropical cyclone development expected the next seven days.

WEEKEND WEATHER: No real change as the routine summer pattern continues. Expect partly sunny days, highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Each day expect those random, scattered afternoon and evening storms, mainly during the 2pm-10pm timeframe. This classic, summertime pattern will persist into next week as we continue through the “Dog Days of Summer.”

“DOG DAYS” HISTORY: The “Dog Days of Summer” refer to the hottest, most stifling stretch of the summer season, traditionally observed from July 3 to August 11 in the Northern Hemisphere.The name originates from ancient Greek and Roman astronomy and astrology, when people noticed that this period coincided with the heliacal rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, located in the constellation Canis Major—Latin for “Greater Dog.”

The ancients believed that the combined heat of the Sun and Sirius was responsible for the oppressive weather, and as a result, the season became associated with drought, disease, lethargy, and even madness. In classical and medieval folklore, the Dog Days were seen as an unlucky time when dogs were more likely to go mad, wine would sour, and tempers ran high.

Today, while the literal link to Sirius is mostly symbolic, the term persists in popular culture as a way to describe the dragging, sweltering days of late summer when energy feels low and the heat seems endless.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 114.8F at Basrah International Airport, Iraq. The lowest observation was -110.0F at Vostok, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 118F at Death Valley, CA. The lowest observation was 26F at Peter Sink, UT.

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About the Author ()

Macon, Georgia Television Chief Meteorologist, Birmingham native, and long time Contributor on AlabamaWX. Stormchaser. I did not choose Weather, it chose Me. College Football Fanatic. @Ryan_Stinnet

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