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LAST NIGHT’s STORMS: I will be the first to admit I didn’t expect the widespread coverage or the severity of the storms that moved through Alabama late yesterday and last night. Yet another reason why I say, when it comes to thunderstorms, expect the unexpected. Humility is seriously missing in our science; there is much we don’t know about the atmospheric convective process. Tuscaloosa and Birmingham took quite a hit from a severe storm that just wouldn’t go away. But, just to the north and south rain amounts were much lighter.
We do note the NWS issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Tuscaloosa County at 3:30 p.m. which said “AT 327 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETECTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL…AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR UNION”. This was issued a good 30 minutes before the storm moved into the city of Tuscaloosa.
That is another reminder that you really need to pay attention to severe thunderstorm warnings.
TODAY: All is calm across most of the state this morning as the overnight rain has moved into Georgia. However, another storm has fired up over Northeast Mississippi as I write this, and that will be entering Northwest Alabama shortly, and the NWS has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Lamar and Marion Counties.
But, I don’t think today will be a day with widespread rain; in fact the sun should be out at times with temperatures reaching the mid 80s. But, no doubt scattered showers and storms will form, with the stronger and most numerous ones, most likely, over the Tennessee Valley of extreme North Alabama. SPC has a slight risk of severe weather in place today from Huntsville north to Indianapolis. We will be watching radar trends closely.
THE WEEKEND: We go rain-free tomorrow and Sunday as an upper ridge builds across the Deep South, and afternoons turn hot. The GFS is printing 90 tomorrow, and 94 on Sunday for Birmingham. Not sure we can reach 94 with the good soil moisture in place from last night’s rain, but low 90 are certainly possible. It will be the warmest weekend so far this year, with a partly to mostly sunny sky both days.
NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND: The ridge holds, meaning each day will be generally dry with only isolated afternoon showers or storms around. Highs will be in the 88 to 91 degree range both days; the 95 degree high printed by the GFS on Monday seems a little out of line. Seems like this pattern wants to hold into early June. See the Weather Xtreme video for more long range ideas.
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I have a road trip this morning down to Southeast Alabama where I will be speaking to some kids in Ozark… I will be back by early afternoon and the next Weather Xtreme video will be posted by 3:30 or so. Enjoy the day!
