An all new edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video is available in the player below, and on iTunes…
There are a few showers on radar this afternoon over the northwest part of Alabama, but a large percentage of the state is dry under a sunny sky. Temperatures are pretty toasty for the 10th of September; most communities are in the low 90s.
CHANGES AHEAD: Two cold fronts are on the way. Front number one arrives in here tomorrow, and we expect a nice round of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night. Rainfall amounts of around 1/2 inch are likely, but some spots might get more.
WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: Lots of debate and uncertainty on these two days. The latest run of the GFS (12Z) has come in with a wetter solution; the NAM now looks a little drier. One way or another, it does look like the best coverage of showers and storms on Wednesday will be south of I-20, or south of a line from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Anniston. Then on Thursday, the GFS moves the moisture northward again, and suggests a chance of showers and storms statewide.
FRIDAY: Cold front number two rolls in here Friday evening, and showers and storms are likely ahead of this front. Once again, average rain totals of 1/2 inch are likely, with local amounts to one inch with the stronger storms. The rain and storms should be out of here by midnight Friday night, but we sure can’t promise drier air for the high school football games right now. We will be able to give you a much better idea of football weather later in the week, but looks like some rain could be around at the high school stadiums.
REFRESHING WEEKEND: Cooler and drier air rolls in here over the weekend. The 12Z GFS continues the idea of highs in the low 80s on Saturday and Sunday, and lows in the low 60s by early Sunday. I am sure the cooler spots across North and Central Alabama will wind up in the upper 50s at daybreak Sunday. Very nice indeed.
Then, we warm back up by the middle of next week as an upper ridge builds back across the Deep South.
TROPICS: Gabrielle is headed out to sea, and elsewhere the best looking wave is about half way between the Cape Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles. This should be upgraded to a tropical depression within 36 hours or so; you have to think the system will be turned northward at some point down the line thanks to the upper trough and push of cooler air into the Southeast U.S. over the weekend. But, it is early in the game and we will be watching.
The Gulf of Mexico remains nervous, but no sign of any organization at this point, and the disturbance should move into Mexico or South Texas within a day or so. Upper air winds don’t favor any serious development now, but that might change later in the week. But, most likely, by then the system will be inland.
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 be recording a new show tonight… it will be posted late tonight or early tomorrow.
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. This is a great way to find the latest weather-related news stories.
I enjoyed speaking to the Shades Valley Rotary Club today on “global warming”… I am thankful for all of the civic clubs that are interested in both sides of the issue! Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow….
