RADAR CHECK: Scattered showers and thunderstorms have formed across Alabama this afternoon as expected. They moving slowly to the east, and producing heavy rain, gusty winds, and lots of lightning. Some of the heavier storms are over the Tennessee Valley of North Alabama. Away from the thunderstorms, some some places this is the hottest day so far this year. Birmingham hit 93 degrees at 2p CT; other communities are in the low 90s as well.
SUMMERTIME WEATHER: The weather pattern looks very typical for late June and early July in Alabama this week. The main jet stream will remain well to the north of the state, and we are in a very humid, tropical airmass. Each day this week we expect a partly sunny sky, and as the summer heat develops during the day, the air becomes buoyant by afternoon, opening the door for showers and thunderstorms to develop.
HUMID SUMMER DAYS: Very moist air will hang over Alabama through the weekend, and we will still mention scattered showers and thunderstorms each day in the forecast. But, the upper trough that has been parked over the region has lifted out, and we expect the showers to be a little more scattered in nature in coming days. Most of them (but not necessarily all) will come from 1:00 until 9:00 p.m., and the odds of any one spot getting wet will be in the 30/40 percent range each day.
MUGGY MORNING: Temperatures are in the 70s, dewpoints are in the 70s across Alabama early this morning as a very moist, tropical airmass remains in place. The radar is quiet as the day begins, but scattered showers and thunderstorms will form again this afternoon and tonight. Odds of any one spot getting wet today are around 60 percent, and the high will be in the mid to upper 80s with a mix of sun and clouds.
WATCHING THE RADAR: Scattered thunderstorms will likely develop across Alabama over the next 4 hours in a moist, unstable environment over Alabama, and ahead of an upper low over Arkansas. Where storms do form, they could be strong with potential for small hail and strong winds; SPC has all of Alabama in a low end, “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe weather through tonight.
SUN, HEAT, STORMS: Routine late May weather continues across Alabama on this Memorial Day. We expect a good supply of sunshine this morning, followed by a few random, scattered storms this afternoon. The chance of any one spot getting wet today is in the 20/30 percent range, and most of them will come from about 1:00 until 9:00 p.m.
RADAR CHECK: A batch of strong thunderstorms is moving across the Tennessee Valley region of North Alabama early this morning; these storms are producing frequent lightning and gusty winds, but are expected to remain below severe limits. They will move out of the state by mid-morning; otherwise, today will be warm and humid with a mix of sun and clouds, and some risk of scattered storms this afternoon and this evening. The high today will be in the mid-80s for most communities; the average high for May 22 at Birmingham is 83.
RADAR CHECK: Most of the showers and thunderstorms are over the southwest part of Alabama this afternoon in a broad zone from Livingston and Demopolis south to Mobile. Still, a few showers or storms could form over North/Central Alabama from now through about 10:00 tonight. The sky is partly sunny with temperatures in the upper 80s and low 80s for most communities.
CLASSIC AUGUST WEATHER CONTINUES: Today will be another hot, humid day for Alabama with sunshine this morning, and random, slow moving, scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight. Most communities will see a high in the low 90s this afternoon.
CLASSIC SUMMER DAY: This is just what we expect in summer in Alabama. After a mostly sunny morning, we have an array of random, scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. They are drifting to the south/southwest, and are producing heavy rain, gusty winds, and lot of lightning. Away from the storms temperatures are mostly in the low to mid 90s.
SCATTERED AFTERNOON STORMS: Look for hot, muggy weather again today across Alabama with a partly sunny sky and afternoon temperatures in the low to mid 90s. Like yesterday, scattered, random, slow moving showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and tonight in the unstable air; odds of any one spot getting wet are 30/40 percent. The weather won’t change much tomorrow as the classic summer pattern continues.
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHANGES THIS WEEK: A blanket of moist air remains parked over Alabama today, and the radar is quiet this morning. Showers and storms will develop later today in scattered spots during the peak of the daytime heating process. We project a high today between 87 and 90 degrees for most communities.
HUMID SUMMER WEATHER: As this day begins we have a number of showers and storms in progress over Tennessee Valley and some northwest counties of Alabama as a very moist airmass remains in place. Showers and storms will slowly develop to the south and east today, and most communities across the northern half of the state stand a good chance of getting wet at time or two. Highs will be in the 80s with only a limited amount of sun; South Alabama will see low 90s.
HOT, MUGGY JULY DAY: A heat advisory is in effect for much of Central and Northwest Alabama today, where highs will be in the mid 90s and humidity levels will be pretty oppressive. But, all 67 counties will be hot and humid with high in the 90s. A few showers and storms will form during the heat of the day, but they should be fairly widely scattered.
Our long time friend, mentor, and charter Weather Factory member, J.B. Elliott, passed away on May 11, 2015. Click HERE to read James' tribute.
