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More strong storms are forming across the northern half of Alabama this afternoon. One storm just north of us (ABC 33/40 is in Riverchase, near the intersection of Valleydale Road and Riverchase Parkway) has produced very heavy rain in parts of Hoover along with strong winds. We have reports of trees down on Lorna Road from that storm.
You know the story; the storms this afternoon will have the potential to produce heavy rain, lots of lightning, and strong winds in scattered areas until they diminish after dark. A few wet microbursts are possible. For those of you that ask. the definition of a “wet microburst is…
“A convective downdraft accompanied by heavy rain with an affected outflow area of less than 2½ miles wide and peak winds lasting less than 5 minutes. Microbursts may induce dangerous horizontal/vertical wind shears, which can adversely affect aircraft performance and cause property damage. Winds gusts can exceed 80 mph.”
It is almost impossible to warn for them due to their very short nature, and the fact that they impact such a small area.
LOOKING AHEAD: The 12Z run of the GFS continues the trend of slowing down our surface front. I still expect to see an increase in the number of showers and storms tomorrow afternoon, and possibly tomorrow night due to outflow boundaries coming down from the north. Saturday should offer the best coverage of showers and storms.
With the latest GFS holding the front up near the Tennessee border, which matches typical frontal movement in July, I think we had better bring back at least some chance of scattered storms on Sunday. There might be a few around on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week, but drier air should ease in here from the north and east, and they should be pretty widely separated.
Our weather will remain hot and muggy, although humidity levels should drop a bit by early next week. Afternoon highs will stay generally in the low to mid 90s.
TROPICS: One tropical wave is approaching the Windward Islands, and another mass of disturbed weather is over the Bahamas. No sign of any organization in either system, and tropical storm formation is not expected through Friday.
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I had a great time visiting with the kids at Moundville Elementary (in their summer program) this morning, be watching for them today on ABC 33/40 News at 5:00… tonight I will be speaking at the Argo Assembly of God at 7:00. Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here on the blog by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow… and the great Alabama weather legend J.B. Elliott will keep the blog updated this afternoon concerning the storms in progress.
