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Today is the 8th consecutive day of triple digit heat for Birmingham, which ties the record of 8 days in a row of 100+ temperatures set in July 1980. We move into record territory tomorrow as the relentless heat wave rolls along. Expect triple digits all the way through Friday for most of North and Central Alabama.
Here are some 2:00 observations:
Birmingham 101 (but the humidity is only 23 percent… with a dewpoint of 57)
Tuscaloosa 104 (the humidity has dropped to 19 percent; the dewpoint is 55)
Montgomery 103
Sure looks like triple digit heat will continue on Saturday, but the GFS shows lower heights, and some risk of afternoon showers or storms on Sunday. Then, next week, highs slowly should settle back into the 90s as the upper air high weakens. So the models say; lets hope they are correct.
GULF OF MEXICO: The disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico is aimed at the southern tip of Texas, whether it becomes a tropical storm or not, it will bring lots of rain to the entire Texas coastal plain late tomorrow into Thursday. This system is passing well to the south of Alabama.
TROPICAL STORM DEAN: The system looks much better on visible satellite images this afternoon; and model madness continues. The latest GFS now moves Dean to a point on the middle Texas coast at the end of next week. All of the models have adjusted to the left, and they are now hinting this will be a Gulf of Mexico hurricane. But, this could all change again. We have seen models showing this system making landfall anywhere from Tampico, Mexico to Long Island, New York. The entire U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coast is in play for now; all we can do is make an educated guess.
Speaking of that, we have a contest going on WeatherBrains; guess the point of landfall and the wind speed. The person with the best forecast will win a great prize… listen to the new WeatherBrains podcast for details on how to enter.
WEATHER PARTY: Get all the latest weather news over on our sister site, WeatherParty.com. Be sure and register while you are there; you can submit stories and vote on them to determine what is published on the front page.
Been a very busy day, and it is just getting started. I enjoyed sitting in with Bill “Bubba” Bussey on the Rick and Bubba show from 7:00 until 8:00 this morning… and I had a great time speaking to a big crowd at the Adelia M. Russell Library in Alexander City this morning… we had lots of kids in the crowd; be looking for them on the KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40. And, I am about to head out to More Than Conquerors Faith Church for live weather at 5:00 and 6:00… we will be updating our Neighbors In Need campaign to get window air conditioning units to people who really need them. We have learned the need is great… learn how you can pitch in to help here.
The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
