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DRY THROUGH FRIDAY: Not much change in the weather through Friday; we stay dry with a warming trend. The high tomorrow will be around 80, followed by low to mid 80s Friday. Low level moisture will begin to increase Friday, but the active weather will stay west of the state. In fact, a major severe weather outbreak is very possible Friday from East Texas and Louisiana north through much of Arkansas, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Some significant tornadoes are possible, and we will be watching developments there will interest.
STORMY SATURDAY: Rain will likely begin over Alabama early Saturday morning, and we still project periods of rain through the day with a few thunderstorms. The most significant severe weather threat during the day, however, will stay to the west, where severe weather parameters are maximized over Mississippi. The severe weather threat here in Alabama seems to be in the general period from 6:00 p.m. Saturday through 4:00 a.m. Sunday. Watch the Weather Xtreme video for the details and a close-up look at severe weather parameters, but it certainly looks like all modes of severe storms will be possible here Saturday night.
The best possible case is that an all-day rain Saturday limits instability and the severe weather risk is muted. However, even with rain much of the day you can’t ignore the dynamics moving into the state Saturday night. Remember, we are still a few days away from this event, and we won’t be able to see the mesoscale setup until it is knocking on the door. But, it is wise to prepare for the potential for severe thunderstorms in Alabama Saturday night into the pre-dawn hours Sunday.
The rain will end Sunday morning, and the sky should become partly sunny Sunday afternoon as a dry slot moves over Alabama, with a high around 80 degrees.
TALLADEGA RACE WEEKEND: Saturday looks very difficult to get the Aaron’s 312 in. The main race comes on Sunday (the Aaron’s 499) and we believe that the weather will turn dry by starting time. We expect rain to end early in the Birmingham area and about midmorning in the Talladega area. Afternoon temperatures for the Sunday race should be around 80 or 82.
NEXT WEEK: The weather looks generally dry for the first half of the week, but another wet/stormy set-up shows up as May begins, with some hints of a stalled surface front here and a heavy rain/flooding threat. Again, see the Weather Xtreme video for details.
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I had a great time today visiting with the 3rd graders at Ohatchee Elementary School in Calhoun County; be looking for those kids on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow….
