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TODAY: Not too much change in the overall weather today; hot and humid with a few scattered showers and storms this afternoon. Afternoon highs in the 91 to 95 degree range, just what you expect in mid-July. The chance of any one spot getting wet is about one in five.
TOMORROW AND FRIDAY: The heat ridge retreats to the west, and an unusually deep upper trough for mid-summer forms over the eastern third of the nation. This will mean a good chance of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow and Friday, with excellent potential for two-day rain totals of one to two inches of rain statewide, with some spots possibly going over three inches. Yet another chance at some beneficial rain for our state. And, with the increase in rain comes a decrease in heat levels; highs will drop back into the 86 to 90 degree range. SPC has a slight risk of severe weather nosing into extreme Northwest Alabama tomorrow, and low end severe weather probabilities here on Friday, but major severe weather problems are not expected. Like the storms Sunday and Monday, the main issue will be heavy rain and lightning.
REFRESHING WEEKEND: We will be bold and daring and forecast much drier air to invade North Alabama over the weekend, with lower humidity levels and cooler nights. We note the 00Z GFS tries to spin up a surface low to the south that pulls moisture back into East Alabama, as far north as Anniston, on Sunday, but we will discount that solution for now. The GFS continues to print highs only in the 80 to 85 degree range Saturday and Sunday, with lows down in the low 60s Sunday and Monday morning. This means the cooler spots around here have a great chance at reaching the upper 50s. Very refreshing indeed for mid-July.
The dry air stays in place during the first half of next week, with moisture returning by Thursday and Friday with some risk of scattered showers and storms.
TROPICS: See the Weather Xtreme video for the latest on Hurricane Carlos in the Pacific; the Atlantic basin remains quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.
AT THE BEACH: Look for a general increase in showers and storms on the Gulf Coast tomorrow and Friday, but there will be a few intervals of sunshine. The weekend forecast is a bit uncertain with the potential for a wave forming on the surface front; looks like we will have to keep a decent chance of scattered to numerous showers and storms going on the Gulf Coast for Saturday and Sunday, although it won’t be a total wash-out.
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
E-Warn (Alabama severe weather watches and warnings)
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I am speaking this morning at the Family Care Center Academy at the Guiding Light Church out in the eastern part of Birmingham… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!
