Hot and Mostly Dry but Cooler Ahead

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Tuesday was a warm day with a cumulus field and no activity on radar. Today with the approach of a weak frontal boundary, we might see the development of an isolated thunderstorm or two, but we’ve also seen some pretty significant warming to the lower atmosphere and I expect we remain mostly dry with one of the hottest days so far for 2014. With highs climbing into the middle 90s and some spots getting into the upper 90s, we will also see heat indices climb into the 100 to 105 range.

Additionally some dry air aloft around 700 millibars has increased the microburst potential for the area. If we see convection initiate, we will need to watch for storms to become briefly severe with damaging wind the big threat.

The surface high off to our northwest, the significant trough moving across the Ohio River Valley, and the development of Arthur off the East Coast of Florida will combine to bring some drier and cooler air into North and Central Alabama for July 4th!

Arthur has continued to improve in structure with an interesting view from the Melbourne, FL, radar. There has been some indication of a restructuring of the center which has taken the position of Arthur slightly east of the earlier location. Radar animation shows a rather slow northward travel to the center. Because of the restructuring to the storm, the forecast track has been adjusted slight east of the track we saw yesterday. Also tropical storm and hurricane watches have been issued for a large portion of the Carolina coastline.

The trough moving through the Ohio River Valley moves off the Mid-Atlantic coast on Friday and this will take Arthur out into the northern Atlantic after it moves very closely by the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The northwesterly flow aloft and the drier air coming from the north will bring us a great July 4th with high temperatures dropping back into the upper 80s.

Moisture will gradually increase over the weekend with upper level ridging over the southern tier of the US into the first of next week. This should bring us back to a more summer time type pattern with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms as highs climb back into the lower 90s.

Beach goers will see warm weather at the beach for the next several days with only isolated showers possible. Highs will be around 90 on the immediate coast and into the middle 90s inland. Sunshine should be in good supply with 7 to 9 hours of good sun.

Voodoo country was dominated by a huge upper high on the run yesterday. Today, just as we see fairly often, the pattern has changed with a deep trough along the eastern seaboard with the big ridge over the western states. This pattern, if it verifies, would keep the heat in check for the eastern US. Ah, but what will tomorrow bring?

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The next Weather Xtreme Video is planned for 7 to 8 am on Thursday morning. Enjoy your day and Godspeed.

-Brian-

Category: Alabama's Weather