As part of severe weather awareness week in Alabama, today is the day for the annual statewide tornado drill. At some point during the day, the NWS will issue a simulated tornado watch, and then a simulated tornado warning. When the practice warning is issued, all of the normal warning systems will be activated, including NOAA Weather Radio’s alarm and outdoor warning sirens. Cooperating broadcasters, like ABC 33/40, will also put the message on the air. We ask that you note the time you hear the warning; later today we will tell you when it was issued and you can see how long it takes to get a warning. If you do not hear the simulated tornado warning at all, then that means you probably are not able to hear a real warning. And, that is not good.

Needless to say, the solution to getting the warning is having a NOAA Weather Radio receiver at every home and business in Alabama. The new digital format allows you to choose the county or counties for which the alarm sounds. The system works very well and NOAA Weather Radio penetration in Alabama is simply too low.

I also need to mention that our friends in Tuscaloosa will hold a special all day event today at McFarland Mall. There will displays by the National Weather Service, the local National Weather Association chapter out of Mississippi State University, Tuscaloosa Fire/Rescue Safety House, Tuscaloosa County Joint Operations Command Trailer, Tuscaloosa Police Helicopter and SRT van, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Red Cross and the SKYWARN Storm Spotters. In addition, some NOAA Weather Radio receivers will be given away. The ABC 33/40 crew will be there, and we will broadcast the weather live at 12 Noon, 5:00, and 6:00. If you are in the Tuscaloosa area be sure and drop by and say hello!

Wanted to get in a quick plug for Tuscaloosa's big day tomorrow at McFarland Mall. We will be there with the Storm Chaser van and our weather team; we will be broadcasting live at 12:00, 5:00, and 6:00.

There will displays by the National Weather Service, National Weather Association (MSU), Tuscaloosa Fire/Rescue Safety House, Tuscaloosa County Joint Operations Command Trailer, Tuscaloosa Police Helicopter and SRT van, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Red Cross and the SkyWarn Storm Spotters. In addition, we will give away some NOAA Weather Radios.

If you are in the Tuscaloosa area tomorrow, be sure and come by McFarland Mall and pay us a visit!

The Tuesday afternoon video is on the server:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

The clouds over north Alabama today have kept us closer to 70, so this will not be the warmest day of the year for us. Still, nobody is griping. Feels really nice today.

Not much change to the forecast package for the next five days, expect maybe to decrease the chance of rain on Saturday.

A cold front comes through tomorrow with only a few scattered light showers during the morning. Temperatures return to normal levels on Thursday and Friday with a light freeze likely Friday morning.

A prolonged wet period will begin over the weekend. The GFS has backed off on the rain a bit for Saturday, but Sunday through Tuesday of next week looks very wet with periods of rain and a few thunderstorms. I still have concern flash flooding issues might come into play before the rain moves out at mid-week.

Don't forget the statewide tornado drill tomorrow... I will write more about this and post it here late tonight. This is severe weather awareness week in Alabama.

And, our Storm Alert 2005 show will be in Hanceville Thursday night at 7:00. Hope to see you there.

AND... thanks to Pastor Allen Atkins for the hospitality today down in Demopolis. I spoke to a large group of home schoolers and the parents at Fairhaven Baptist Church. After the show I managed to have time for a roast beef sandwich at MR. G's. Good stuff!

The Tuesday morning video update is on the server:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

Sure looks like we go into the mid 70s today statewide. Maybe the warmest day so far this year for some places. Here are the highlights on the morning forecast package:

*Mid 70s today. Enough said... will be a great day.

*Cold front slips in here tomorrow with a chance of showers. Not much rain, but a pronounced cooling trend begins.

*A freeze Friday morning. Looks like we could reach the upper 20s, quite a drop from the mid 70s of today.

*A prolonged wet period begins on Saturday. I still have concerns over flooding issues at some point in the Saturday through Wednesday time frame (February 19-23). Looks like the heaviest rain axis could set up across the Tennessee Valley of extreme north Alabama, lots will depend on a surface boundary and where it winds up. Rainfall amounts will drop off as you head south.

*The 06Z GFS is advertising a sharp change to cold weather around February 26 with a big blizzard kind of storm off the New England coast. Not sure this is the right time or pattern, but we still have plenty of good cold snaps ahead. See the post below.

On the road today to Demopolis... down in Marengo county at the confluence of the Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers. Will be speaking to a group of home schoolers, and I am looking forward to the ride on a lovely, warm February day....