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HOT MAY DAY: Huntsville has soared to 90 degrees at 3:00… other observations include 89 at Tuscaloosa, and 88 at Birmingham and Anniston. The sky is partly sunny, and there is no rain on radar around here.
SOME FORECAST ADJUSTMENTS: The 12Z model runs continue the idea of a tropical disturbance bringing a better chance of showers to Alabama on Thursday, and we will adjust the forecast accordingly.
Any showers tomorrow should be very widely spaced, but we now expect a general increase in the number of showers and thunderstorms Thursday. The most numerous ones will be south and west of Birmingham, with showers becoming harder to find over the northeast counties of Alabama. Temperatures will back down a bit due to the clouds and showers, with highs back in the low to mid 80s.
Friday will be generally dry and warm with a high in the mid to upper 80s along with a partly sunny sky.
WEEKEND PEEK: The upper ridge this weekend will be centered west of Alabama, meaning we will have a light northwest flow aloft. Those can be a little trick; any wave in the flow can bring a round of showers, and it is pretty hard to identify those days in advance. So, for now, we will roll with a summer-like forecast for the weekend, with a mix of sun and clouds Saturday and Sunday; highs in the upper 80s, and the risk of scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers.
AARON’S DREAM WEEKEND: Big weekend of racing ahead at the Talladega Superspeedway… Friday looks warm and dry, then for Saturday and Sunday will mention about a one in five risk of a brief, passing shower at the track, otherwise the sky will be partly sunny over the weekend with a high in the upper 80s. Widespread rain is not expected.
NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND: The GFS is still advertising a nice cool-down in the May 10-15 time frame as an upper trough forms over the eastern half of the nation. See the Weather Xtreme video for the graphics and details.
SUPER MOON: The biggest full moon of the year is due to arrive this weekend. The moon will officially become full Saturday (May 5) at 10:35 p.m. CDT. And because this month’s full moon coincides with the moon’s perigee — its closest approach to Earth — it will also be the year’s biggest. The moon will swing in 221,802 miles (356,955 kilometers) from our planet, offering skywatchers a spectacular view of an extra-big, extra-bright moon, nicknamed a supermoon. See details on space.com here.
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I had a great time today visiting the kids at Lynn High School in Winston County… be looking for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…
