In the vast ocean of heat and humidity over Alabama, thunderstorms were developing this afternoon, but so far they are not as numerous as yesterday at this time. There was a line of showers and a few thunderstorms stretching all the way from Memphis to Chattanooga and right along the Alabama/Tennessee border. They were moving almost due east.
In South Alabama, showers and thunderstorms extended as far north as Greenville, Camden and Hayneville. They were moving NE.
Over in East/Central Alabama, there was a cluster of showers and thunderstorms, mainly over South Cleburne County and Randolph County.
NWS/Birmingham issued a Significant Weather Alert for Cleburne County until 2:30 based on a thunderstorm SW of Heflin moving east 5 to 10 mph. May have hail up to 1/2 inch in diameter and gusts as high as 45 mph.
In NE Alabama, NWS/Huntsville issued a similar Alert for DeKalb County until 3:00 p.m.
ALABAMA DROUGHT SITUATION
The latest U. S. Drought Monitor has the north half of Alabama under either Extreme or Exceptional drought classification. This is north of an arbitrary line from Vernon to Reform, Clanton and Lafayette. The Exceptional drought area is mostly over the north/central and NE counties.
There has been some improvement in crops and lawns, but we still have a serious shortfall for the year so far. Two of the worst places are Tuscaloosa with a deficiency of 22.11 inches and Anniston short by 21.49 inches. The Department of Agriculture says the worst agricultural impacts are in the corn crops with 80% of the Alabama corn acreage in Poor or Very Poor condition. 61% of the soybeans are in a similar shape. 56% of the livestock is Poor or Very Poor, as well as 56% of the pasture and rangeland.
A bit of good news: the recent rains have caused hay fields to snap back and producers may get a decent cutting of hay, if the current rain patterns continue.
