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MOISTURE LADEN AIR: The morning sounding from the Shelby County Airport shows precipitable water at 2.12″, and surface dewpoints are running in the low to mid 70s in most locations this afternoon (Birmingham’s 2:00 p.m. dewpoint is 74 degrees!). This means tropical downpours are likely, and a number of them have popped up on radar this afternoon. Some of the heaviest rain as I write this is along and just east of I-65 in North Chilton County.
No real change through Friday; very humid with scattered to numerous showers and storms around, mostly during the afternoon and evening, but a late night or morning shower will be possible. We will be watching for potential for strong storms Friday afternoon with an approaching cold front.
THE WEEKEND: We are still on track for a very refreshing weekend… dry air means sunny days, clear nights, cool mornings, and low humidity. The GFS is now printing 62 Sunday morning, which means the cooler valleys will be in the 50s. A really nice preview of fall. The 12Z GFS shows dry air continuing into Monday and Tuesday of next week.
BIG BAD BILL: Hurricane Bill is now at Category Four strength with sustained winds of 135 mph. No change in the forecast track; it will pass east of the U.S. Atlantic coast, and west of Bermuda over the weekend. This big storm will generate huge swells and very rough surf along the East Coast over the weekend. It will be close to Nova Scotia by Monday, but it will be weakening rapidly by then in the cooler water of the North Atlantic.
MINNEAPOLIS: Looks like a tornado has moved through the southern part of Minneapolis this afternoon… I have not heard any reports of injuries so far, thank goodness. See an image of the storm here.
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