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The expected trend toward increased shower and thunderstorm activity across Alabama has arrived, and I am hearing no complaints so far. A number of neighborhoods have received some rain today, and the stronger storms have dropped over one-half inch of rain on some communities.
Some of the storms have been strong to severe; a late report from Northwest Alabama:
Florence [Lauderdale Co, AL] emergency mngr reports TSTM WND DMG at 02:43 PM CDT — two trees down on a house and a tree down along highway 20.
Severe thunderstorm warnings have been posted for Lauderdale and Colbert counties up in Northwest Alabama during the last 30 minutes for a line of strong storms entering the northwest corner of the state. SPC has issued a mesoscale discussion, but at this time they are not planning on issuing a severe thunderstorm watch for Alabama.
Scattered showers and storms will continue tonight and tomorrow as a weakening front approaches the northern border of Alabama. Enjoy the rain, however, because dry air returns Sunday, and at this point we are not expecting any rain of significance Sunday through Tuesday. Afternoons will be hot on those three days; we expect highs somewhere between 92 and 96 on those days.
LONG TERM: Still no sign of any tropical weather action in the Gulf of Mexico through June 24. Our best bet for rain will come from the occasional afternoon showers and storms that will develop.
***A new severe thunderstorm warning was just issued for Chilton County. I will cut this short so I can get ready for some TV duty; J.B. will have the latest updates on the ongoing storms here for the rest of the afternoon and tonight…
