Lower Humidity; Cooler Nights

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The ole GFS was right… the idea presented about 5 days ago was right on target. Unusually dry air for July is indeed moving into Alabama this morning, and that means a mostly dry week with low humidity during the day, and pleasant nights.

The dewpoint at 5:00 a.m. at Muscle Shoals was only 58, and that drier air will work southward during the day today. All of the state will be in dry air tonight, and we are leaving out any mention of showers all the way through Friday.

Most places will be down in the low 60s by daybreak tomorrow, but no doubt some of the cooler valleys will visit the 50s; a real rarity for July in Alabama. Afternoon highs will be up in the low 90, but the low humidity values will make conditions relatively comfortable.

WEEKEND PEEK: Sufficient moisture returns to bring back the chance of widely scattered afternoon showers or storms by Saturday and Sunday, but the moisture is not especially deep, and most likely the showers will be widely spaced. Highs should stay mostly in the low 90s.

LONG RANGE: No sign of any really exciting weather for the rest of July; still looks like a case of temperatures and rainfall being near average, with typical hot and muggy conditions and the almost daily risk of an afternoon storm in a few spots.

BERTHA: We might be talking about this storm at Christmas, at the rate we are going. Bertha is a strong tropical storm, only about 90 miles southeast of Bermuda. Watch the Weather Xtreme video for the graphics; this one will more out to sea in coming days (weeks!), but with a rather odd track. Conditions will improve on Bermuda tomorrow.

94L: Our disturbance in the Atlantic, between the coast of Africa and the Lesser Antilles, has a chance to become a tropical depression during the next day or two as it moves to the west/northwest. This is a more low latitude system, and has a chance to enter the Caribbean late in the week. If this becomes a tropical storm, the name will be Cristobal. No, we don’t name them, we just forecast them.

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. You can even listen here on the blog; look for the player on the top left. Tonight our guest will be John R. Mecikalski from UAH discussing some exciting new satellite technology that could help us forecast afternoon thunderstorms on a summer day. The new show should be up by 10:00 p.m. or so.

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Wow… what a great time I had last night at Greensboro Baptist Church. What a big crowd and great hospitality. Thanks to everyone. And, this morning I will be speaking to kids in a summer program at Vestavia Central Elementary. I will be back in the office by early afternoon, and the afternoon Weather Xtreme video should be posted by 3:30 or so. Enjoy the day!

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