Warm Ahead of Showers

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What a stormy day it was across the Nation’s mid section yesterday. SPC’s storm report page showed over 120 reports of tornadoes. Fortunately it appears the number of injuries was small and I did not see mention of any fatalities. However, as assessments occur today, that might change though we pray that it will not. Another stormy day for the central section of the US with a slight risk extending north to south from the Great Lakes to East Texas with a moderate risk over portions of Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

The surface high that was over the Outer Banks of North Carolina yesterday has migrated further into the Atlantic. That places us firmly into an increasingly moist flow with low clouds showing up across much of the Southeast US this morning. Interesting on the Skycam network to note the clouds in the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham area while further north at places like Cullman the clouds had not yet appeared. Temperatures this morning ranged from the mid 50s to mid 60s across Central Alabama. Looks like a warm day with highs reaching to around 80 degrees.

The upper low will continue to eject from the eastern Rockies into the western Great Lakes area and gradually weaken as it drags a front into our area on Monday. With the upper trough hanging back, the front will move through slowly allowing for showers and thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday. Right now it appears that the severe weather threat is limited with the biggest potential for marginally severe hail and damaging wind coming with storms fueled by the heat of the day. The trough finally drags through by late Tuesday which paves the way for a couple of days of nice weather on Wednesday and Thursday. However, do not expect to see much temperature change. The front will usher in some drier air, but the upper flow stays zonal so no real temperature change with highs still around 80. Rainfall amounts are expected to be in the 1 to 2 inch range with good coverage.

Friday we begin to watch a trough dig into the eastern US. This should bring another round of rain to the area primarily on Saturday. The rain moves out late Saturday and the upper flow becomes strongly northwesterly. This means a significant change in temperatures with highs Sunday and Monday only in the 60s. Now won’t that feel good?

Not much change in the long range outlook. We have another shot at some wet weather around the 27th with a big ridge building into the eastern US by the 30th. This means a warm end to April along with a summer-ish look with the potential for some afternoon showers.

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James Spann will be back with the next edition of the Weather Xtreme Video first thing Monday. My Sunday to usher, so I’ll be off to church shortly. Godspeed.

-Brian-

For your meteorological consulting needs, Coleman, Knupp, and Peters, LLC, can provide you with accurate, detailed information on past storms, lightning, flooding, and wind damage. Whether it is an insurance claim needing validation or a court case where weather was a factor, we can furnish you with information you need. Please call us at (205) 568-4401.

Category: Alabama's Weather