The latest drought monitor released this morning, shows the rains of the last week were a big help. All of Alabama is drought free, and no part of Alabama is abnormally dry.
Greetings from the road as I travel to the University of South Alabama as the Meteorology Department host their annual SeCAPS (Southeastern Coastal and Atmospheric Processes Symposium) weather conference. Since I graduated from South, I love attending and supporting this completely student led conference each year.
The mainly sunny weather continues today and tomorrow and we are seeing highs in the mid and upper 70s, with some low 80s showing up on the maps. Tonight will be warmer as we see more clouds, lows should generally be in the 50s.
Alabamians will need to pay very close attention to the weather tonight through tomorrow night as a dynamic storm system will bring violent thunderstorms to the state.
A quick moving system is bringing rain and some storms back to Alabama. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) maintains a “marginal risk” (level 1 of 5) for severe storms this afternoon across much of Alabama.
Our confidence continues to increase in a significant severe weather event this weekend for Alabama and the Deep South. Now and in the coming days is the time to prepare and plan for this event.
Today and tomorrow the weather is gorgeous across Alabama with sunshine in full supply and comfortable afternoon temperatures. Expect highs in the low and mid 70s both days, while night will be chilly with lows in the 40s.
A deepening surface low will cause a tight pressure gradient across the state causing our winds to increase today. Wind fields will be impressive with the tight pressure gradient.
The SPC maintains an “enhanced risk” (level 3/5) for parts of West Alabama, with a “slight risk” (level 2/5) for the rest of the state. The greatest chance for severe storms will be to the west tomorrow, and that is where the tornado threat will be highest, especially across North Mississippi, but the storms to our west will congeal into a line of strong and severe storms.
There remains the threat of strong and severe storms this afternoon and tonight. The SPC has defined an “enhanced risk” (level 3/5) over central, south, and southwest Alabama, along and south of a line from Moundville to Jemison to Alexander City, some cities included are Demopolis, Selma, Montgomery, Auburn, Troy, and Monroeville.
Rain has been ongoing through the morning hours and it will continue to expand in coverage and intensity as we head through the afternoon hours.
The SPC has increased the risk of severe weather for portions of Alabama to a “slight risk” (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms this afternoon for Central and South Alabama.
Plenty of sunshine today is allowing temperatures to surge into the mid and upper 80s across the state. Later this afternoon and evening, clouds begin to return ahead of our next storm system that will bring rain and storms back to Alabama for our Friday and into our Saturday.
A major severe weather outbreak is expected today and tonight across the Plains. Multiple strong, long-tracked tornadoes, as well as very large hail and severe thunderstorms gusts are expected.
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.
