An all new edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video is available in the player below. You can subscribe to the Weather Xtreme video on iTunes by clicking here.
STORMY FRIDAY: Clouds will thicken across Alabama tonight, and strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across our state tomorrow as yet another spring storm system rolls through here. To the west, a tornado watch is up for much of East Oklahoma and parts of adjacent states as the first action of the day gets underway.
Watch the Weather Xtreme video for the graphics that go along with this discussion, but it looks like our system tomorrow, while not the most dynamic of the year, will have the most unstable air to work with so far in 2009 as surface based CAPE values rise into the 2,000 to 2,500 j/kg range. Some other severe weather parameters for tomorrow afternoon from the 12Z NAM:
0-1km EHI: 3.41
0-1km Shear (kt): 34
STP: 8.31
CravenSig: 61,675
BestLI (C): -7.01
Those numbers certainly get your attention; SPC is considering an upgrade to a moderate risk for North Alabama for the day (most all of Alabama is in a slight risk of severe weather for now). While storms could fire tomorrow morning, it looks like the core severe weather threat will come from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. No sign of a blocking MCS on the Gulf coast this time, and all modes of severe weather will be possible, including a few tornadoes.
So, yet another day to watch the weather closely, and be sure you are close to a good source of severe weather watches and warnings.
EASTER WEEKEND: Very nice weather is the story; while we could see some lingering clouds Saturday morning, the sky will become mostly sunny by afternoon with a high in the mid to upper 60s and a northerly breeze. Sunday will feature a good supply of sunshine with a high in the low 70s.
MORE STORMS MONDAY: Another dynamic weather system blows in here Monday. This one will have better upper support that our system tomorrow, so it will also bring a risk of strong to severe thunderstorms. Some hint on the 12Z GFS of a thunderstorm complex on the Gulf Coast that could interfere with the flow of unstable air into North Alabama, but we won’t be able to resolve this until we get tomorrow’s system out of here.
LONG RANGE: Tuesday and Wednesday of next week look dry and pleasant, but showers and storms should return by Thursday and Thursday night. Hard to get in five days in a row with no rain with this very active spring weather pattern across the Deep South.
We also note the GFS hints at a pretty good shot of cool air in here in the April 19-20 time frame; doesn’t look like a freeze, but could be a deal with some of the coldest valleys get some frost. Way too early to be specific, and that upper trough might vanish in coming days.
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.
TWITTER: Don’t forget, you can follow our news and weather updates from ABC 33/40 on Twitter here. And, my personal Twitter feed is here if you want to keep up with my adventures in life. Twitter is a short messaging service you can receive via the web, cell phone, or IM.
SPECIAL ABC 33/40 NOAA WEATHER RADIO OFFER: You can purchase the WR-100 Midland NOAA Weather Radio, the best selling model in the nation, at any Publix or Handy TV location in this part of Alabama for only $29.95. These receivers have the new digital technology that allows you to choose the counties for which the alarm sounds. Every Alabama home and business needs one!
I had a great time today visiting with the kids at Elvin Hill Elementary School in Columbiana (1st grade)… be watching for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…
