An all new edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video is available in the player below, and on iTunes…
A big thank you to J.B. Elliott, Bill Murray, Brian Peters, Ashley Brand, and everyone else who allowed me to have a little down time last week. As you know, I run long and hard from September to May, and this is that time of the year when I try to take some time off and recharge the batteries.
Be sure and scroll down for many pictures from yesterday and last week from our readers… including images of hail and storm damage from yesterday. I have more that I will post later this morning.
METEOROLOGICAL SUMMER: I need to write my annual essay on summer weather in Alabama. This is the time of the year when an afternoon storm can fire up on just about any day through August; and hot and humid are the two words used most often. Weather changes are slow and gentle, and we really have to look at small scale features to try and determine the placement and coverage of afternoon storms.
TODAY: The core of the heat ridge and warm air aloft remains west of Alabama, so scattered showers and storms should fire up again today, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. The air aloft today won’t be quite as cold as yesterday, but some of the stronger storms still could produce some hail. And, don’t forget, this is wet microburst season in Alabama; there could be a few spots of straight line wind damage, much like yesterday. The best chance of a shower or storm will be generally from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m., and the chance of any one spot getting wet is about one in three. Otherwise, the day will feature a mix of sun and clouds, with a high in the mid to upper 80s.
REST OF THE WEEK: The upper ridge will build over Alabama slowly, so look for hotter and drier weather tomorrow through Thursday with temperatures reaching the 90 to 94 degree range. Afternoon storms will be widely spaced.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Not much change for the weekend; highs in the low 90s, widely scattered afternoon storms. Your typical summer forecast for Alabama. We will fine tune the afternoon storm situation later in the week.
TROPICS: Tropical storm Arthur is dissipating over Southeast Mexico and Central America this morning; elsewhere the Atlantic basin is relatively quiet. The big hurricanes usually hold off until August, September, and early October, when SSTs (sea surface temperatures) are peaking.
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. We will record a few show tonight with Minneapolis meteorologist Paul Douglas; it will be posted around 10:00.
I am out early this morning speaking at the AMSTI-UAB Summer Institute for Alabama teachers… AMSTI is the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, and a great way to get Alabama students involved in math and science. Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so this afternoon…. enjoy the day!
