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Thanks to Brian Peters for handling today’s Weather Xtreme video… I am taking a little “half vacation” from the TV side for a few days.
Some strong storms have formed around the Birmingham metro this afternoon… the Shelby County Airport is down to 81 degrees thanks to a thunderstorm; the NWS reports over a half inch of rainfall in just 15 minutes with that downpour.
Below is J.B.’s seven day forecast discussion…
THE HEAT CONTINUES: Our weather story today is very much like previous days–a continuation of discussing unusually hot weather here in Alabama. While it is unusually hot, it is nowhere near our worst heatwaves in past history.
Actually, we see some temporary relief in sight starting Friday and Saturday when there should be an increase in the number of showers and thunderstorms. That automatically means more cloud cover and therefore not as hot. The latest model data, which sometimes can help us greatly and sometimes lead us astray, shows an actual front (we sure can’t call it a cold front) near the Tennessee River by Friday morning. It is projected to be as far south as Birmingham Saturday morning and slowing to a stall down in Central Alabama by Sunday morning.
So, what does all of that mean? It sure does not mean any noticeably cooler weather, but we believe there will be an increase in showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday. Our better chance for the entire week will be on those two days. This allowed us to back off somewhat on the high temperatures. We are using 94 for a high on Friday and 95 on Saturday. The chance for showers and storms will thin out on Sunday and become rather scarce Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. You guessed it–this will allow the old thermometer, as tired as it is, to rebound early next week and take another shot at the 100-degree mark.
THE THUNDERSTORM SITUATION: Scattered storms were developing this afternoon and most of them seem to be south of Birmingham extending down into the extreme southern counties. Some of the stronger ones were near Dothan. But other parts of the state will also seem some storms and conditions are favorable for a few strong storms with high winds and very dangerous lightning.
AT THE BEACH: A bit more comfortable in places like Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Destin with highs about 92 for the next several days. However, there will be some scattered thunderstorms, probably more numerous on Saturday than any other day. Yes, they have a heat index also of over 105 at times, but most of the high temperatures will be in the lower 90s.
TROPICAL: What was once Tropical Storm Colin has pretty much given up. No longer a closed circulation, but there were still some tropical storm-force winds in he NE part. Upper level winds are not cooperating at all and there is very little chance that he will regain tropical cyclone honors, at least for the next two days. Another disturbance, a tropical wave, was over the Central and SW Caribbean. It has changed little. It may develop slowly, but a very small chance of being promoted to a tropical cyclone in the next two days.
THE OVERWORKED THERMOMETER: The temperature had already soared to 98 in parts of North Alabama by 2:00 this afternoon and to near 100 in parts of Mississippi. Oklahoma and Arkansas are really suffering from the heat. Little Rock had a high of 107 yesterday. Other highs in the middle of the country included 109 in Wichita and 105 in Topeka. The USA extremes for the last 24 hours included 118 in Death Valley and 35 this morning at Stanley, Idaho. Just think, if you lived in Stanley on the banks of the Salmon River in the heart of the Sawtooth Mountains, you would not even have to worry about air conditioning. But your winter heating bill would be out of sight.
MY TINY CORNER OF THE WORLD: I sure hope the MO (Majority Owner) doesn’t read this, but I must confess that I spanked Little Miss Molly yesterday afternoon. I am confessing now. I was at a supermarket last night and a lady recognized me being connected with Molly. I don’t know how unless it was my photograph with Molly at the top of the ABC 33/40 BLOG page. I mentioned to her about the spanking and she was flabbergasted and said in no uncertain terms, “You just can’t do that.” I also confessed to a great friend on the Warrior River and she gave me a very stern, but friendly, scolding by e-mail today. Little Miss Molly was stubborn and did not want to go on the walking track. She wanted to leave at every home and try to visit people who weren’t even available. She sure did give me an astonished look, but she said last night she would forgive me and we made up. Life goes on.
