The latest edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme Video is available in the player below, and on iTunes.
Before we start with the current weather, I have posted in the video a beautiful lightning picture that came to me from Ashlyn Wilks of New Canaan, CT, via her grandmother who is a friend of my sister-in-law in Tallahassee, FL. It was taken at Bonita Beach, FL, one of my favorite spots with lovely white sand beaches. I understand that she snapped a dozen or more pictures, but only got the one with a great lightning shot. Thanks to everyone in the long chain that got that picture to me, and a special thanks to Ashlyn for sharing.
Humid, hazy, and hot – the three H’s that accurately describe the weather pattern for the upcoming week. Pinson and Tuscaloosa hit highs of 100 yesterday, and it looks like this heat will be with us through much of the upcoming week. Also air quality is in the orange category which is unhealthy for sensitive groups, so be sure to take that into consideration along with the heat should you have plans to work or play outside. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and listen to your body and take it easy in the heat.
The 06Z GFS model run has continued to maintain the upper ridge over the Southeast US for much of the upcoming week, but by Friday the GFS shows a different look. Yesterday the upper ridge seemed to be holding on forever, however, the morning run today is showing a big difference for Central Alabama. Beginning Friday, the upper ridge oozes westward while another trough re-establishes itself along the East Coast of the US. This should mean that we’ll get some relief – at least by a few degrees – from the heat of the next 5 or 6 days. And when it comes to triple digits, I’ll take whatever relief I can get.
Actually by next Saturday, the GFS shows a weak front lying across Central Alabama in the vicinity of Clanton. The GFS is not terribly bullish on rain with this weak front, but if we could up the shower coverage even a little, that would help. It looks like isolated thunderstorms today and probably Monday but with the ridge getting stronger into mid-week, I think we’ll see almost no showers. Then with that weak front and a northerly flow aloft, perhaps we’ll see scattered showers by next weekend.
I really think that we’ll see upper 90s for much of this week with three digit highs in a few locations especially Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday as the upper ridge gets stronger.
In the tropics, the disturbed weather that we’ve watched cross the Caribbean for the last several days has reached Central America. The broad area of thunderstorms will bring some heavy rain to the Yucatan Peninsula and parts of Central America and Mexico. It’s likely to cross into the Pacific Ocean where it could develop into a tropical storm.
James Spann will be back bright and early tomorrow morning with the next Weather Xtreme Video. I’ll be filling in for Ashley Brand on the 5 and 10 pm weather segments, so I hope you can tune in for the latest weather information. Have a great weekend and a great upcoming week – I’m going camping!! God bless.
-Brian-
