An all new edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video is available in the player below. You can subscribe to the Weather Xtreme video on iTunes by clicking here.
THIS AFTERNOON: The core of the upper ridge is centered west of Alabama this afternoon, and we are in a northerly flow aloft on the eastern periphery of that high. The “ring of fire” effect is producing strong storms over Alabama moving from north to south, and the NWS has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Colbert and Lauderdale Counties in Northwest Alabama as I write this. That one is producing hundreds of ground strokes, and has potential for wet microbursts along the path.
Away from the storms, temperatures are mostly in the mid 90s. Birmingham is at 95 degrees at 3:00 with a heat index of 102. But, where the rain is falling, temperatures are in the 70s.
TOMORROW AND THE WEEKEND: I stress there isn’t much skill in forecasting placement and coverage afternoon storms on summer days in Alabama far in advance. There is always the chance of a strong storm blowing up on a hot afternoon. Having said that, the GFS and the NAM are relatively dry tomorrow and Saturday with highs in the mid to upper 90s. Moisture levels increase a bit Sunday with a better chance of afternoon showers and storms.
NEXT WEEK: Hot is the word; the GFS is printing highs in the 96 to 99 degree range for the first half of the week; later the heat bubble shifts to the west with heat levels lowering here a bit along with a better chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. I think our adequate soil moisture levels will prevent the mercury from getting over 100 and into record territory, but no doubt it going to be hot.
TROPICS: I really do believe the emphasis will shift from the heat to the tropics as we get deeper into August. NHC is monitoring two tropical waves in the Atlantic; one near the Windward Islands, and another one midway between the Lesser Antilles and the coast of Africa. Both have low probabilities of development, but as upper winds become more favorable in coming weeks; the tropical satellite images will look like whack-a-mole maps with tropical issues all over the board. See the Weather Xtreme video for more.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 30 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. You can even listen here on the blog; look for the player on the top left.
FOLLOW ALONG: Here are our weather team Twitter accounts….
| James Spann | Jason Simpson | Ashley Brand |
| J. B. Elliott | Bill Murray | Brian Peters |
| Dr. Tim Coleman | WeatherBrains Podcast | E-Warn (AL wx watches/warnings) |
Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…
