Hit And Miss Summer Storms

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MORNING THUNDER: Some healthy thunderstorms are roaming the Alabama countryside early this morning. As I write this before 6:00 a.m… strong storms are in progress over parts of Fayette, Lamar, Marion, and Winston Counties of Northwest Alabama. These are dropping to the southeast, and just might hold together long enough to impact Tuscaloosa and Birmingham for the morning rush hour. These storms are rotating down the east side of the heat bubble that has been parked over Texas and Oklahoma all summer.

TODAY AND TOMORROW: We will maintain the chance of scattered showers and storms today and into the evening hours as the moist, unstable airmass remains in place. Most communities will reach the low 90s, but some places could hold in the 80s due to the morning showers. We believe the coverage of showers and storms will increase tomorrow thanks to the approach of a surface front. Most places stand a 50/50 chance of getting wet, and there could be strong storms involved. SPC has much of North Alabama in the standard “slight risk” tomorrow afternoon, with the main threat coming from wet microbursts.

WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: The GFS continues the idea of the surface front actually moving south of us, meaning drier air for the latter half of the week. This could mean few, if any showers, and lower humidity levels. We might see some places dropping into the the 60s during the early morning hours, especially over Northeast Alabama. Highs will remain in the low to mid 90s, but the lower humidity will make the heat feel a little better.

WEEKEND PEEK: Moist air returns over the weekend, along with the risk of scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. The GFS suggests the best coverage of showers will come on Sunday as another surface front approaches from the north. Highs over the weekend will be at or just over 90, which is where we should be this time of the year.

TROPICS: Amazingly quiet across the Atlantic basin and tropical storm formation is not expected through mid-week. Watch the Weather Xtreme video and it seems like dry air from the African deserts is one of the main factors now limited development.

AT THE BEACH: If you are trying to slip in a last minute beach trip, we don’t expect anything unusual this week along the Central Gulf Coast from Panama City west to Gulf Shores. About 6 to 8 hours of sunshine each day with the standard risk of scattered showers and storms. Highs along the immediate coast will be close to 90, and the sea water temperature early this morning at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab was right at 90 degrees, about the warmest we have seen this summer.

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. We will record this week’s episode at 8:30 p.m. CDT.

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

Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so this afternoon… thanks to Brian Peters, Bill Murray, J.B. Elliott, and Jason Simspon for covering my duties for three days last week allowing me a few more vacation days. Now, back in the saddle! Enjoy the day….

Tags: storms

Category: Alabama's Weather