Quiet Afternoon

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GENERALLY DRY: You can just about count the number of showers on radar on one hand this afternoon. As I write this around 3:30… there are isolated showers over West Alabama’s Tuscaloosa, Hale, Perry and Bibb Counties, but most of the state is dry.

Temperatures again today are below average, but a little warmer than yesterday. Some 3:00 observations include 91 at Tuscaloosa, 89 at Birmingham, and 87 at Anniston. Dewpoints are generally in the mid to upper 60s, nothing like the mid to upper 70s we saw much of last week. Another words, it is a pretty comfortable afternoon for the middle of summer in Alabama.

TOMORROW: I don’t think the weather changes all that much. Temperatures should be a tad warmer, but MOS products from the models look too warm. We should be in the low to mid 90s with a good supply of sunshine and only a small risk of a shower.

WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY: Moisture levels will increase on these three days, and accordingly we expect to see an increase in the number of scattered showers and storms during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs will stay in the low to mid 90s, with any one spot having about a one in three chance of getting wet each afternoon.

WEEKEND: No real change… we will roll with the standard mid-summer forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Partly sunny both days with the risk of a passing afternoon shower or thunderstorm in scattered spots. Highs hold in the low to mid 90s.

NEXT WEEK: The GFS continues to advertise an increase in showers and thunderstorms on Monday of next week as the upper ridge weakens. Highs could drop back into the 80s with a general increase in clouds and showers.

BRET MOVING SLOWLY TO THE NORTH: Tropical Storm Bret has changed little today… with winds of 50 mph near the northern tip of the Bahamas. Bret is expected to move northeast in coming days, moving about half way between Bermuda and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The system is not expected to reach hurricane strength, and will weaken this weekend as it moves into the cooler water of the North Atlantic. See the Weather Xtreme video for more tropical details.

AT THE BEACH: Look for mostly sunny days and fair nights for the rest of the week along the Central Gulf Coast, with a high around 90, and only a few widely spaced showers and storms each day. Sea water temperatures this afternoon are mostly in the mid 80s.

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 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. Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is a Kim Klockow, a PhD student in the Department of Geography at the University of Oklahoma. She has her Masters degree in Meteorology and Undergraduate degrees in Meteorology and Economics. Her interest is in the intersection of weather and decision making. We will record the show at 8:30 tonight, and will post a link to the live stream here before the show begins.

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I had a wonderful time today at the Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Club… even got to see my old elementary school principal, Mr. Archie Hitson of Verner Elementary. That was a real treat! Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…

Tags: quiet

Category: Alabama's Weather