Strong Storms This Evening
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RIGHT NOW: A fairly strong short wave has beat the upper ridge down a bit this afternoon, allowing strong storms to form over Northeast Alabama, where the NWS in Huntsville has issued a few severe thunderstorm warnings. Golf ball sized hail has been reported at Sand Rock in Cherokee County within the hour. And, SPC maintains a severe thunderstorm watch for the Tennessee Valley of North Alabama through 7:00 p.m. local time.
Additional showers and storms could form down into North-Central Alabama within the hour, and they could be strong as well. The main risk will be hail, with potential for strong gusty winds as well. Understand the storms will be scattered, as usual, on a summer day, so many neighborhoods will remain dusty.
TOMORROW AND FRIDAY: Looks like instability values and forecast convective inhibition values will be sufficient for “scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms” on both days with highs in the mid 90s. The chance of any one spot getting wet is about one in four.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: Unfortunately the ridge will grow stronger over the weekend, meaning heat levels inching upward with rain chances on the way down. Look for a good supply of hazy sunshine Saturday and Sunday with highs in the mid 90s (maybe upper 90s in parts of West Alabama), and only isolated afternoon storms.
NEXT WEEK: We stay hot and mostly dry Monday, but another wave should beat the heat ridge down a bit by mid-week opening the door for some general increase in the number of scattered storms.
LONG RANGE: The GFS continues the idea of the Gulf of Mexico becoming disturbed later in the month. Best we can hope for here is a tropical depression, wave, or weak tropical storm moving into Alabama from the Gulf to wet us down for a day or two. See the Weather Xtreme video for more long range details.
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Category: Alabama's Weather