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RADAR CHECK: At mid-afternoon… the most numerous showers and storms were over the southern half of Alabama; severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect as I write this for parts of Wilcox and Monroe Counties, along with parts of Lee and Russell Counties. The main threat is large hail and gusty winds. A few heavy downpours were also developing in the Birmingham metro area.
We will continue to mention scattered to numerous showers and storms through tonight as an upper trough adds some dynamic lift to the moist, unstable atmosphere. The stronger storms will continue to produce the risk of hail and strong, gusty winds.
TOMORROW: We will mention the risk of a passing shower or storm tomorrow, mainly over the eastern half of the state, and even there the storms will be pretty scattered. Temperatures will be pretty comfortable with a high in the low 80s… we should be in the mid 80s this time of the year.
THE HEAT CRANKS UP: Wednesday through Friday will feature a warming trend; the high Wednesday will be in the mid 80s, followed by a high around 90 Thursday, and low 90s Friday. A building upper ridge should keep our state rain-free on these three days.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: The unofficial kickoff of summer will feel like… well, summer. Looks like highs in the 90 to 95 degree range Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with a good supply of sunshine each day. The warm air aloft associated with the upper ridge should keep us dry, with only a very small risk of any one spot seeing an afternoon shower.
AT THE BEACH: Other than the risk of isolated showers and storms tomorrow, the weather looks dry and warm on the Gulf Coast from Panama City west to Gulf Shores all the way through the Memorial Day weekend. Highs will be in the 80s, with lows around 70. The sea water temperature this afternoon at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab was a warm 83 degrees.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 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. Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is a WB alum, having appeared on show number 199 on November 16, 2009. Mike Smith is the Enterprise Solution Senior Vice President for AccuWeather. In 1981 he founded Weather Data, Inc., the Wichita, KS private weather forecasting firm that provides weather forecasting, consulting, and weather risk management to companies and organizations around the US, Canada, and Mexico. The company was acquired by Accu Weather in 2006. You can listen to the show live via uStream here… we begin at 8:30 p.m. CDT tonight.
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I enjoyed speaking at the Shades Valley Rotary Club meeting today at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens… saw many old friends there, including Bill Bolen. One of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow….
