Storms Arrive Late Tomorrow Night

An all new edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video is available in the player on the right sidebar of the blog. You can subscribe to the Weather Xtreme video on iTunes by clicking here.

RIGHT NOW: We actually have a few illegal showers on radar north of Birmingham; they are very light and not very significant, but we sure didn’t expect to see much on radar today. Otherwise, the sky is partly to mostly sunny with temperatures in the 69-73 degree range. The exception is up in Northwest Alabama, where Muscle Shoals and Haleyville are close to 60.

TONIGHT/TOMORROW: Clouds will increase statewide tonight, and a few showers could break out tomorrow as Gulf moisture returns. The day will be mild and breezy with a high in the low 70s with only a limited amount of sunshine.

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT: SPC has a moderate risk of severe weather in place tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night in the general area from Shreveport to Memphis, with a slight risk (their standard risk) surrounding that from Dallas/Fort Worth to near Birmingham. The overall thinking hasn’t changed much since this morning. The initial severe weather issues will be west of Alabama tomorrow afternoon, where a few strong tornadoes are possible around the Mississippi Delta region. All of that should roll into a long squall line, which will enter Northwest Alabama around midnight tomorrow night.

The main risk of severe weather in Alabama will come from about 10:00 p.m. tomorrow through 8:00 a.m. Friday… initially the issues will be over Northwest Alabama with any discreet cells that form ahead of the squall line… then that long line will roll through North and Central Alabama during the pre-dawn hours Friday.

The primary threat is from damaging straight line winds, but an isolated tornado can’t be ruled out. And, the line of storms should slowly weaken toward daybreak as the air becomes more stable and the upper support becomes less defined. See the Weather Xtreme video for all of the graphics and details.

REMEMBER: Never rely on an outdoor siren for warnings, especially in the middle of the night. Be sure your NOAA Weather Radio is programmed properly and in good working order so you won’t miss any warnings that might be issued while your family is sleeping late tomorrow night and early Friday.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY: The sky becomes mostly sunny Friday afternoon with a high in the 60s… and Saturday should be a beautiful day with ample sunshine and a high in the low 70s.

SUNDAY/MONDAY: A potential second round of severe weather is setting up for late Sunday night and Monday. No way we can be specific right now… we have to get tomorrow night’s system out of here before we focus on this one. But, the main window for severe storms seems to be from about 12:00 midnight Sunday through 3:00 p.m. Monday based on the 12Z global model runs, with potential for all modes of severe weather.

Drier air follows the system, with mostly sunny weather for Tuesday and Wednesday. Highs in the 60s, and lows in the 30s. Some of the colder spots could see a light freeze on both mornings.

WILDFIRES: This is some late information from the Alabama Forestry Commission… conditions remain very dry across our state…

Cherokee County: large fire estimated 1,000 acres burning on Weisner Mountain, northeast of Hokes Bluff. Alabama Forestry Commission has dispatched six tractor units from five counties to the fire. Lat. Long 34.065123 – Long. -85.53479.

Jefferson County: in Minor. Alabama Forestry Commission has dispatched one tractor to a five acre fire at approximately 5229 Walnut Drive. Volunteer Fire Departments on the scene.

Shelby County: One tractor unit dispatched to a fire at Lat. 33.495182 – Long. -86.490754. No estimated acreage at this time.

Since February 1, 513 fires have burned 12,301 acres in Alabama. Approximately 280 of those fires and 9,174 have occurred in the last seven days.

FOLLOW ALONG: Here are our weather team Twitter accounts….

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 30 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40.

I had a great time today visiting with the 6th graders at Piedmont Middle School… be looking for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM at 6:00 on ABC 33/40 News… the first graders from Brent Elementary will be on at 5:00. The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow….

Tags: storms

Category: Alabama's Weather