An all new edition of the ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video is available in the player below, and on iTunes…
Once again today, we have your classic case of “popcorn” showers and thunderstorms on a summer afternoon in Alabama. Showers and storms are blooming nicely in a broad band from Selma to Gadsden, and a few strong ones were over on the western side of the state as well. Some of the heaviest rain now is falling where Walker, Fayette, and Tuscaloosa Counties all come together. Like recent days, the stronger storms today will produce lots of lightning, and they will have the potential for brief wet microbursts.
Not much change is expected tomorrow, but we continue to think that the coverage of the showers and storms will increase by Friday and Saturday in response to a surface front approaching from the north. On those two days, we figure many Alabama communities have a great shot at getting between one-half and one inch of rain. That sure won’t break our drought, but it sure won’t hurt. After a high in the low 90s tomorrow, daytime highs will drop a bit on Friday and Saturday thanks to the increased cloud cover and shower activity.
SUNDAY/MONDAY: The 12Z GFS continues to show drier air over the northern half of Alabama on these days, with almost all of the showers and storms confined to the southern counties of our state.
FOURTH OF JULY: Looks like any showers and storms will remain pretty widely scattered for the Independence Day holiday next week; and of course, the weather will be hot and humid. After all, it will be July in Alabama. Highs should be in the low to mid 90s.
TROPICS: Still very quiet across the vast Atlantic basin this afternoon, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the rest of the week. Remember, we are still very early in the season; the key months for tropical storm and hurricane formation are August, September, and the first two weeks of October.
SPEAKING OF OCTOBER: By the end of October on Halloween, the average high in Birmingham drops to 70, and the average low is 46. Sure sounds good to me. Still lots of hot weather to deal with before we can even begin to think about the golden days of fall.
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.
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 hosted by David Black and featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. Our pal Kevin Selle from Dallas rejoins the team this week… good to have him back after some back surgery.
I wanted to mention that I sure enjoyed being the emcee of the American Subcontractors of America (Alabama Chapter) awards dinner last night at The Club… I have been serving in that capacity for the Alabama ASA Chapter since 1995 (except for a couple of years when I was out of town), and have made many wonderful friends in the construction industry. I just about lost my voice last night… I am recovering from bronchitis, and thanks to everyone for hanging in there with me!
Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here on the blog and on iTunes by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow….
