BLANKET OF MOIST AIR HANGS OVER ALABAMA: Alabama’s weather won’t change much today; we are forecasting a mix of sun and clouds, and with a broad upper trough over the region scattered to numerous showers and storms will fire up again this afternoon and tonight. In fact, a few storms are in progress early this morning over Northwest Alabama; one storm over Winfield is producing rain rates of 6 inches per hour; some localized flooding is possible there.
RADAR CHECK: A strong upper wave is digging through Alabama this afternoon producing scattered showers and thunderstorms. Due to the cold air aloft, hail is falling from the heavier showers (mostly small hail). These showers and storms will dissipate once the sun goes down later this evening, and the wave moves on to the east.
EARLY MORNING UPDATE: Severe storms will likely impact Alabama later today and tonight. Here is the latest thinking.
TIMING: While showers are possible this morning, and possibly some thunder, no severe storms are expected in Alabama until this afternoon. Strong storms current over Northeast Mississippi will clip the northeast corner of Alabama, but should weaken.
SUNNY, WARM DAY: Temperatures are hovering around 80 degrees this afternoon with a sunny sky across the great state of Alabama. But, to the west, the weather is getting very active with everything from blizzard conditions to a PDS (particularly dangerous situation) tornado watch…
Rain and storms will become widespread tonight; the good news is that SPC has really trimmed the severe weather risk for Alabama. No severe storms are expected over the northern half of the state; the core threat will be over Southwest Alabama, where the standard “slight risk” is defined for counties like Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke, Washington, and Choctaw.
RADAR CHECK: Showers have formed ahead of schedule across Alabama early this morning; they are moving eastward across the state at daybreak. Today will be cloudy with a warmer afternoon; most communities reach the low 70s later today. We will maintain the chance of showers during the day, but heavier storms will arrive tonight. SPC maintains a “slight risk” of severe storms for the western side of the state, in the broad region from Fayette to Citronelle. A “marginal risk” extends as far east as Steele, Talladega, and Troy.
PLEASANT AFTERNOON: After a frosty start, temperatures are mostly in the 60s across Alabama this afternoon with lots of sunshine through a thin later of high cirrus clouds. Tonight will be mostly fair and not as cold as last night; most places will see a low in the 40s early tomorrow morning.
WINDY, WARM AFTERNOON: Temperatures have reached the low 80s in many areas across Alabama this afternoon with a mix of sun and clouds; we have a strong south wind of 15-25 mph with higher gusts. Nothing on radar, but tornado watches are in effect for much of Arkansas and parts of West Tennessee, ahead of a cold front that will bring storms to our state late tonight.
ANOTHER WARM SPRING DAY: We project a high around 80 degrees again today; south winds will increase this afternoon, gusting at times to 30 mph ahead of a cold front. The sky will be mostly cloudy, although the sun should peek out at times. A shower is not totally out of the question during the day, but the main action comes late tonight.
**No afternoon Weather Xtreme video today… I am on a “special assignment”… back to the two a day schedule tomorrow** WARM/DRY AFTERNOON: Temperatures are in the 76-80 degree range across Alabama this afternoon with a mix of sun and clouds. The sky becomes mostly cloudy tonight as moisture levels rise. STRONG STORMS TOMORROW NIGHT: The […]
ACTIVE WEATHER DAY: An approaching upper trough/surface front will bring showers and thunderstorms to Alabama today. SPC maintains some risk of severe storms over a decent part of the state.
ACTIVE WEATHER AHEAD: The weather is pretty quiet across the great state of Alabama this afternoon; the sky is generally cloudy, but the sun has popped out at times pushing temperatures into the upper 70s. We have a few widely scattered showers on radar over Northwest Alabama, but nothing widespread or heavy.
ENHANCED RISK: SPC maintains an “enhanced risk” of severe weather for much of North Alabama, generally north of I-20… north of a line from Tuscaloosa to Columbiana to Sylacauga to Ranburne. The standard “slight risk” is up down to York, Monroeville, and Andalusia, and a “marginal risk” covers Southwest Alabama, places like Mobile and Gulf Shores.
The primary severe weather concern will be tomorrow afternoon and evening, but we will deal with periods of rain, and possibly a few thunderstorms tonight as a warm front begins to lift northward through Central Alabama. SPC continues to mention a threat of severe storms for the southern half of Alabama tonight… the main threat will come from strong gusty winds and small hail. The tornado threat for South Alabama tonight is very low.
We have a rather volatile weather situation for Alabama over the next 36 hours. We need to mention this is what we expect during March, April, and May… the prime spring tornado season months. This is not unprecedented or unusual. But, as with any severe weather threat, you need to pay close attention and put yourself in a place to hear severe weather warnings.
