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RIGHT NOW: In the tropical air over Alabama, a number of downpours show up on radar this afternoon. Some of the heaviest rain at 3:15 is located over Cullman, Marshall, Etowah, Cherokee, Greene, Hale, and Lamar Counties. The NWS has a number of “significant weather alerts” for these storms, which are not at severe limits, but they pack a punch. Lots of lightning output from the heavier storms, and because of the slow movement some localized flooding issues are very possible. The storms will continue well into the night before dying down.
**The NWS has just issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Blount and Etowah Counties… scroll down for more info**
THE WEEKEND: Both the GFS and the NAM are pretty bullish on tropical rain at times both tomorrow and Sunday. With the broad low hanging around just to the west, and PW values over two inches, I think the models are right on the money. The GFS is printing 1.54″ for Birmingham for the next 60 hours, and I do think rain amounts will average 1 to 2 inches. Of course, some spots will see more; I imagine a few communities have seen two inches of rain just this afternoon under the heavier downpours. The sky over the weekend will be cloudy at times, with highs in the 89 to 93 degree range.
NEXT WEEK: Watch the Weather Xtreme video and you will see the GFS wants to move the old tropical low back toward the extreme northern Gulf of Mexico, just off the Louisiana coast, with some potential for better organization by Tuesday. It drifts over toward Galveston by Wednesday. Not sure this is the right solution; that low could just hang around here for much of next week. One way or another, very moist air will stay in place, and each day next week we will have the potential for scattered to numerous showers and storms with highs mostly in the low 90s.
TROPICS: Other than the ghost of Tropical Depression Five, which is inland over Mississippi, the tropics are relatively quiet for August, and additional tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.
AT THE BEACH: There will be a lot of showers and thunderstorms in places like Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Destin through the weekend, especially through Saturday. But a good chance also from Sunday through Tuesday. On the positive side, there will be a few decent intervals of sunshine each day. High temperatures every day close to 90.
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Brian Peters will have the video updates here tomorrow and Sunday… my next Weather Xtreme video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. Monday. Enjoy the weekend!
