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Birmingham and Anniston ended the 100-degree streak of hot days yesterday with clouds and isolated thunderstorms putting a cap on the afternoon temperatures. But Tuscaloosa, Pinson, and Montgomery continued by extending the streaks in those locations with afternoon highs in the triple digits. While the break in the heat yesterday was certainly welcome, it does not appear that the heat is really over. It looks like the oppressive heat will return again today and especially Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as the strong upper ridge builds solidly back across Central Alabama.
In the meantime we are also watching Hurricane Dean with 150 mph wind moving steadily westward across the Caribbean. Fortunately, the center of the storm is well away from land but even then the effects will be felt along the coastal areas together with rain and some wind. Dean showed signs of some fluctuation overnight but remained a very powerful storm as seen on the latest satellite imagery. The future track projections take Dean fairly straight westward with Jamaica and the Yucatan Peninsula in his path.
Remnants of Erin had reached West Texas and were producing some heavy rain across that area. Some clouds from Erin even made it into the sky across the Southeast in the form of thin high clouds.
The GFS continued on the latest 06Z model run to suggest a pretty definitive end to the heat with a fairly deep east coast trough by next weekend. I know I’m sure ready to see an end to this terrible heat. On Mt. Cheaha the leaves are beginning to show some signs that Fall in on the way. Of course, it’s hard to tell if it is that or if the effects of the drought are making themselves known. It’s probably a combination since I’ve seen some red leaves. Days are getting shorter so Fall can’t be too far off.
The GFS has some interesting developments in the longer range, or voodoo land. But it’s always fun to talk about those. A front could be in the picture by next Sunday, August 26th, but then the really juicy material raises it’s head as the GFS brings another tropical system into the picture around the end of August. This one is being projected to come across the Central Gulf of Mexico, but then we all know the track record of the GFS that far into the future. But as I’ve said before, it’s something to talk about. And with the overall tropical picture becoming more active, there is some possibility that the GFS is picking up on the next system. We’ll see.
I hope you can stay cool today. I think there is hope that the heat will be just a memory if we can hold on a bit longer. I’ll have another Weather Xtreme Video posted by 8:30 am tomorrow plus you can catch ABC 3340 news tonight at 6 and 10 pm. Have a great weekend and God bless.
-Brian-
