**No Weather Xtreme video this afternoon** ACTIVE WEATHER DAY: A line of showers and thunderstorms developed quickly across North Alabama around 1:00, and the storms grew to severe limits in spots. A number of severe thunderstorm warnings have been required today; the main threat with the storms passing through is from strong straight-line winds. Some […]
SUN AND STORMS: For some, summer soakers have developed this afternoon with heavy rain, some flooding, gusty winds, and lots of lightning. But, for others, it has been a partly sunny, hot, humid, and dry day. Scattered storms are moving slowly northward, and where rain is falling temperatures are in the 70s. Away from the storms, readings are mostly in the low 90s with very high precipitable water values. Storms will settle down later tonight as the air cools and becomes more stable.
RADAR CHECK: We have a number of showers and thunderstorms across Alabama this afternoon; they are moving to the west/northwest around the circulation of a broad upper low over the region. Storms are below severe limits, but are producing heavy rain and gusty winds in a few spots.
TYPICAL JULY WEATHER: Overall atmospheric moisture levels have decreased a tad across Alabama today, so when scattered showers and storms begin to form this afternoon they should be fewer in number. Heavier thunderstorms are expected to be over the far southwest part of the state, where SPC maintains a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe thunderstorms for this afternoon and early tonight.
MUGGY AFTERNOON: An MCS (Mesoscale Convective System) rolled through Alabama this morning in a northwest flow aloft producing heavy rain and gusty winds. Radar suggests parts of Northwest Alabama received over 5 inches of rain earlier today, and a few flash flood warnings were required. The radar is fairly quiet over North/Central Alabama at mid-afternoon with heavier storms over the southern third of the state. SPC has removed the severe weather threat for most of the state thanks to the stabilization process after the morning rain.
RADAR CHECK: A batch of rain and thunderstorms is moving through Northwest Alabama early this morning; the storms are not severe, but are noisy with lots of lightning and heavy rain. This activity will diminish later, but more storms will likely develop by mid to late afternoon, and those could pack a punch. SPC has roughly the northern half of the state in a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe thunderstorms today.
RADAR CHECK: Most of the thunderstorms over Alabama at mid-afternoon are over the eastern half of the state, and some of those are very strong with gusty winds and small hail. They are moving along at a pretty good clip, so no flooding issues have been reported so far. Away from those storms, the sky is partly sunny with temperatures in the 87-90 degree range.
HUMID MORNING: it is a muggy late June morning across Alabama with dew points in the 70s for most communities. We note a few sprinkles over West Alabama, but the better chance of showers and thunderstorms will come later today as the air heats up and becomes unstable. SPC has a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe thunderstorms defined for the northeast counties of the state this afternoon; heavier storms will be capable of strong straight line winds and some hail.
RADAR CHECK: A band of showers and strong thunderstorms is moving across Northwest Alabama at mid-afternoon, producing gusty winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. So far, they have been under severe limits, but SPC maintains a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe thunderstorms for most of Alabama through tonight.
RADAR CHECK: Showers and thunderstorms are fairly widespread across Alabama at mid-afternoon; so far the storms have generally remained below severe limits, but the heavier storms are producing gusty winds and lots of lightning. SPC maintains a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe storms across much of Alabama through early tonight.
UNSETTLED PATTERN: Moist, unstable air now covers all of Alabama, and we expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to fire up later today and early tonight. The chance of any one spot getting wet today will be in the 70/80 percent range, and the high will be in the mid 80s for most communities. SPC has much of the state in a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) of severe thunderstorms; like yesterday heavier thunderstorms this afternoon could produce small hail and strong, gusty winds.
SUN AND STORMS: A batch of showers and thunderstorms is passing through Central Alabama early this morning, those will end soon. The midday hours look fairly quiet today with intervals of sunshine and temperatures rising into the 80s. Then, more scattered thunderstorms form by mid to late afternoon and early tonight. Those storms could be strong; possibly severe in spots. SPC has defined a “slight risk” (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms for areas north and west of Birmingham, with a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) for the rest of the state.
James Spann
@spann
