SUN AND STORMS: Most all of Alabama is generally rain-free early this morning, but more showers and storms will fire up in scattered, random locations from about noon to midnight. Like recent days, storms that form will be slow movers, and will be capable of producing heavy rain, gusty winds, small hail, and lots of lightning. Of course, it won’t rain everywhere; odds of any one spot seeing rain today are 50-60 percent.
NEW DAY, OLD FORECAST: It is that time of the year when the weather in Alabama just doesn’t change much. There is nothing on radar early this morning, but later today random, scattered showers and thunderstorms will form during the afternoon and evening hours. Like recent days, they will be slow movers, and will produce heavy rain, strong gusty winds, and lots of lightning.
HOT, HUMID, A FEW AFTERNOON STORMS: Alabama’s weather won’t change much today. Partly sunny, hot, and humid with random, scattered showers and thunderstorms around mostly between 2:00 and 10:00 p.m. Odds of any one spot getting wet this afternoon are 35-45 percent, and the high will be at or just over 90 degrees. The average high for Birmingham on July 26 is 91.
LATE JULY IN ALABAMA: We expect very routine summer weather across Alabama this week. An upper ridge is parked across the southern U.S… with the mid-latitude westerlies (the “jet stream”) on top of the heat ridge over the northern states. This will set the stage for partly sunny, hot, humid days with random, scattered showers and thunderstorms around during the afternoon and evening hours, mostly between around 2:00 and 10:00 p.m.
RADAR CHECK: There are various pockets of shower and thunderstorm activity across Alabama this afternoon… some of the more numerous ones are across the east and southeast counties, and between Tuscaloosa and Muscle Shoals. They are moving east/southeast, and the heavier storms are capable of producing strong gusty winds, heavy rain and frequent lightning.
RADAR CHECK: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are moving eastward across Alabama early this morning, stronger storms are producing heavy rain and lots of lighting and some loud thunder. We will continue to see scattered storms through the day… it won’t rain everywhere, but some spots will see a good summer soaker. Away from the storms expect a mix of sun and clouds with a high around 90 degrees.
RADAR CHECK: There are a few scattered showers across North/Central Alabama this afternoon; parts of the Birmingham metro had a decent downpour earlier today with a cluster of slow moving storms.But, the more widespread rain is over the southern half of the state, where moisture levels are higher.
RADAR CHECK: Rain and storms are active early this morning over parts of East Alabama around sunrise… in a broad zone from near Montgomery to Phenix City. Some flooding is very possible in this part of the state as the storms are nearly stationary; flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Lee and Russell counties during the pre-dawn hours.
RADAR CHECK: Again today most of the showers and thunderstorms are over the southern half of Alabama, mainly south of a line from Lafayette to Montgomery to Mobile. Stronger storms there are producing heavy rain and lots of lightning, but the northern counties of the state remain in a drier airmass. Temperatures are mostly in the 87-92 degree range at mid-afternoon.
DRY DAY FOR NORTH ALABAMA: Drier air has moved down into the northern third of the state today… the day should be dry there with a good supply of sunshine along with a high in the upper 80s. We will mention the chance of a few random, scattered showers and storms over the central and southern counties this afternoon and tonight, where moisture levels are higher.
RADAR CHECK: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are in progress over the northern quarter of the state at mid-afternoon; stronger storms are over the Tennessee Valley. A shower or storm could pop up just about anywhere through the evening hours… otherwise the sky is partly sunny with temperatures mostly in the mid 90s. Scattered showers and storms end later tonight.
RADAR CHECK: The afternoon thunderstorm lottery is underway across Alabama this afternoon; showers and storms have formed in the hot, humid airmass in random places… generally drifting westward. Away from the showers, temperatures are in the 91-95 degree range with a partly sunny sky. Scattered storms end tonight after sunset.
HOT: The upper ridge holds across the Deep South through the week, and we project highs mostly in the mid 90s for Alabama. With high dew points/humidity levels, the heat index could touch 105 in spots, and the NWS has issued a “heat advisory” for a decent part of the state. A few cooling showers and storms will form daily during the heat of the day, mostly between 2:00 and 10:00 p.m.
RADAR CHECK: Again today we have random, scattered showers and thunderstorms across Alabama on a hot, humid Independence Day. The more concentrated showers are over the southwest counties of the state at mid-afternoon… away from the summer rain temperatures are mostly in the low 90s. The average high for July 4 in Birmingham is 90. Scattered showers and storms end tonight after sunset.
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.
