The National Weather Service Birmingham has issued a Freezing Rain Advisory until 9 a.m. Monday morning for the following Central Alabama counties...Blount, Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston.
The National Weather Service Huntsville has issued a Winter Weather Advisory until 9 a.m. Monday morning for the following North Alabama counties...Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan, Marshall, DeKalb and Cullman.
Freezing rain is expected overnight to the north of a line from Millport to Oneonta to Fort Payne.
A thin glaze of ice is expected across these areas.
South of this line to a line from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Odenville to Jacksonville, temperatures may drop to freezing briefly overnight, resulting in some slick spots on roads.
Temperatures across Central Alabama range from 37F at Birmingham to 39 at Tuscaloosa to 40 at Anniston. Further north, temperatures are already below freezing over much of North Alabama.
Radar indicates light precipitation from parts of Winston and Cullman Counties south across Jefferson County into Pickens and Tuscaloosa County. Widespread light precipitation with some moderate precipitation is indicated over much of northern Mississippi. This precipitation will lead to fairly significant icing over Northwest and North Alabama later.
All residents of Central and North Alabama will want to check road conditions before venturing out late tonight and Monday morning.
Alabama Weather Update 10:30 p.m.
February 19, 2006, 11:41 pm
by Bill Murray
in General Thoughts
Severe Weather Awareness
February 19, 2006, 11:06 pm
This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Alabama. All week long, the National Weather Service will be highlighting a different severe weather threat that affects our state. Today is devoted to severe thunderstorms. Tuesday will highlight lightning. Wednesday will feature the tornado threat and feature the annual statewide tornado drill. Thursday will spotlight the number one weather killer in the United States...flooding and flash flooding. Finally, Friday will wrap up the week with a focus on NOAA All-Hazards Weatheradio and the Emergency Alert System day.
There are three kinds of thunderstorms. Single cell, multi cell and supercell. Single cell, or pulse thunderstorms frequently occur in the summer months. They develop when unstable air develops into a thunderstorm updraft. They are not organized and generally rain themselves out as they choke on their own downdrafts. They generally do not become severe, which is defined as a storm with winds 58 mph or greater or hail 3/4 of inch or larger (penny size.) But they still can be killers producing deadly lightning and very heavy rainfall that can cause flooding.
Multi cell thunderstorms form when atmospheric wind profiles are conducive to tilting the thunderstorm updraft away from the downdraft and precipitation core. Thunderstorm clusters and squall lines are examples of multi cell thunderstorms. These storms often become severe, frequently producing damaging winds and occasional tornadoes in addition to the usual threats of lightning, hail and very heavy rains.
Supercell thunderstorms are the kings of the sky. They form when instability levels are high and spin in the atmosphere is plentiful. This spin, called helicity can set a thunderstorm to rotating like a top. These storms are most likely to produce long track ,damaging tornadoes, as well as winds over 100 mph, very large hail and the usual complement of deadly lightning and flooding rains. They usually like to be isolated by themselves to reach their destructive potential, but they can be embedded in squall lines or in clusters. Supercells are most common in the primary severe weather seasons of Spring and Fall.
Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when radar indicates a storm may be severe or actual ground truth reports indicate the criteria has been reached. Severe thunderstorm warnings should always be taken seriously, although many people believe the criteria for severe thunderstorms should be raised. In any case, the best idea is to be in a substantial building or home when a thunderstorm threatens. Stay away from windows and avoid using the telephone and electrical appliances because of lightning. Mobile homes should be vacated for safer structure as strong winds can overturn them easily.
There are three kinds of thunderstorms. Single cell, multi cell and supercell. Single cell, or pulse thunderstorms frequently occur in the summer months. They develop when unstable air develops into a thunderstorm updraft. They are not organized and generally rain themselves out as they choke on their own downdrafts. They generally do not become severe, which is defined as a storm with winds 58 mph or greater or hail 3/4 of inch or larger (penny size.) But they still can be killers producing deadly lightning and very heavy rainfall that can cause flooding.
Multi cell thunderstorms form when atmospheric wind profiles are conducive to tilting the thunderstorm updraft away from the downdraft and precipitation core. Thunderstorm clusters and squall lines are examples of multi cell thunderstorms. These storms often become severe, frequently producing damaging winds and occasional tornadoes in addition to the usual threats of lightning, hail and very heavy rains.
Supercell thunderstorms are the kings of the sky. They form when instability levels are high and spin in the atmosphere is plentiful. This spin, called helicity can set a thunderstorm to rotating like a top. These storms are most likely to produce long track ,damaging tornadoes, as well as winds over 100 mph, very large hail and the usual complement of deadly lightning and flooding rains. They usually like to be isolated by themselves to reach their destructive potential, but they can be embedded in squall lines or in clusters. Supercells are most common in the primary severe weather seasons of Spring and Fall.
Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when radar indicates a storm may be severe or actual ground truth reports indicate the criteria has been reached. Severe thunderstorm warnings should always be taken seriously, although many people believe the criteria for severe thunderstorms should be raised. In any case, the best idea is to be in a substantial building or home when a thunderstorm threatens. Stay away from windows and avoid using the telephone and electrical appliances because of lightning. Mobile homes should be vacated for safer structure as strong winds can overturn them easily.
by Bill Murray
in General Thoughts
NWS Birmingham issues Freezing Rain Advisory
February 19, 2006, 10:28 pm
...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM MONDAY MORNING FOR
PORTIONS OF THE AREA...
A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM MONDAY MORNING FOR
MARION...LAMAR...WINSTON...FAYETTE...WALKER AND BLOUNT COUNTIES.
WITH TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW FREEZING ACROSS THESE COUNTIES...
ANY PRECIPITATION THAT FALLS WILL BE IN THE FORM OF FREEZING
RAIN. RADAR INDICATES PATCHES OF LIGHT PRECIPITATION ACROSS AREAS TO
OUR WEST AND THIS PRECIPITATION WILL SHIFT NORTHEASTWARD OVERNIGHT.
ALTHOUGH THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT...SOME ICING OF
BRIDGES...OVER-PASSES...ROOFTOPS AND TREES WILL BE POSSIBLE.
TEMPERATURES WILL WARM ABOVE FREEZING ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA BY
9 AM ON MONDAY. ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA...TEMPERATURES
ARE EITHER EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE FREEZING OR ANY PRECIPITATION THAT
FALLS WILL BE SO LIGHT THAT NO PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED.
PORTIONS OF THE AREA...
A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM MONDAY MORNING FOR
MARION...LAMAR...WINSTON...FAYETTE...WALKER AND BLOUNT COUNTIES.
WITH TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW FREEZING ACROSS THESE COUNTIES...
ANY PRECIPITATION THAT FALLS WILL BE IN THE FORM OF FREEZING
RAIN. RADAR INDICATES PATCHES OF LIGHT PRECIPITATION ACROSS AREAS TO
OUR WEST AND THIS PRECIPITATION WILL SHIFT NORTHEASTWARD OVERNIGHT.
ALTHOUGH THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT...SOME ICING OF
BRIDGES...OVER-PASSES...ROOFTOPS AND TREES WILL BE POSSIBLE.
TEMPERATURES WILL WARM ABOVE FREEZING ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA BY
9 AM ON MONDAY. ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA...TEMPERATURES
ARE EITHER EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE FREEZING OR ANY PRECIPITATION THAT
FALLS WILL BE SO LIGHT THAT NO PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED.
by Bill Murray
in General Thoughts
NWS Jackson issued Winter Weather Advisory
February 19, 2006, 10:06 pm
The NWS in Jackson has issued a Winter Weather Advisory effective until 10 a.m. Monday for the area north of a line from Natchez to Jackson to Macon (about 50 miles west of Tuscaloosa.)
Temperatures over Central Mississippi are a few degrees cooler than those over Central Alabama at 8 p.m.
It was 34 at Jackson...32 at Vicksburg and Greenwood and 27 at Greenville. (at 8 p.m.)
Light precipitation is expected to fall as mainly freezing rain, leaving a thin glaze on exposed objects and roads. Hazardous dirivng conditions are expected to develop.
Temperatures are unchanged across Central Alabama at 9 p.m., with 39 at Tuscaloosa, 38 at Birmingham and 40 at Anniston.
The NWS Huntsville continued a Winter Weather Advisory for their counties through 9 a.m. Monday.
No indication that the NWS Birmingham will issue an advisory just yet.
All residents of North and Central Alabama will want to monitor weather and road conditions later tonight and early Monday morning.
Temperatures over Central Mississippi are a few degrees cooler than those over Central Alabama at 8 p.m.
It was 34 at Jackson...32 at Vicksburg and Greenwood and 27 at Greenville. (at 8 p.m.)
Light precipitation is expected to fall as mainly freezing rain, leaving a thin glaze on exposed objects and roads. Hazardous dirivng conditions are expected to develop.
Temperatures are unchanged across Central Alabama at 9 p.m., with 39 at Tuscaloosa, 38 at Birmingham and 40 at Anniston.
The NWS Huntsville continued a Winter Weather Advisory for their counties through 9 a.m. Monday.
No indication that the NWS Birmingham will issue an advisory just yet.
All residents of North and Central Alabama will want to monitor weather and road conditions later tonight and early Monday morning.
by Bill Murray
in General Thoughts
Alabama Weather Update 8:45 p.m.
February 19, 2006, 9:38 pm
Light precipitation is moving rapidly from west to east across the northern half of Alabama tonight. MOst of the precipitation is in the form of very light rain or drizzle. Reports indicate that the precipitation is reaching the ground over East Alabama in Cleburne County, which matches up well with radar returns.
Temperatures are warm enough for the precipitation to be falling in a liquid form across Central sections of the state. It will be interesting to watch the behavior of temperatures in the Tuscaloosa... Birmingham and Anniston areas over the next few hours as the precipitation prouces an effect called evaporative cooling.
North of a line from Millport to Berry to Warrior to Gadsden, temperatures will probably drop to freezing and here is where we will see the best chance of icing on exposed objects and roads. Temperatures are already in the lower and middle 30s in these areas.
South of this line down to a line from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Odenville and Jacksonville, icing may occur if temperatures can briefly fall to near freezing. It does not take very much freezing rain or drizzle to cause big time road problems, so everyone will want to use extra caution and pay close attention to morning traffic and weather reports before traveling. If your car is equipped with an external thermometer, monitor it also, watching for readings below 35F.
Remember that bridges and overpasses often ice first. If you start to slide, stay off the brakes.
We will be monitoring the aituation throughout the night.
Temperatures are warm enough for the precipitation to be falling in a liquid form across Central sections of the state. It will be interesting to watch the behavior of temperatures in the Tuscaloosa... Birmingham and Anniston areas over the next few hours as the precipitation prouces an effect called evaporative cooling.
North of a line from Millport to Berry to Warrior to Gadsden, temperatures will probably drop to freezing and here is where we will see the best chance of icing on exposed objects and roads. Temperatures are already in the lower and middle 30s in these areas.
South of this line down to a line from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Odenville and Jacksonville, icing may occur if temperatures can briefly fall to near freezing. It does not take very much freezing rain or drizzle to cause big time road problems, so everyone will want to use extra caution and pay close attention to morning traffic and weather reports before traveling. If your car is equipped with an external thermometer, monitor it also, watching for readings below 35F.
Remember that bridges and overpasses often ice first. If you start to slide, stay off the brakes.
We will be monitoring the aituation throughout the night.
by Bill Murray
in General Thoughts
Quick Check of Alabama Weather at 7:30 p.m.
February 19, 2006, 8:28 pm
At 7 p.m., temperatures were below freezing over the Tennessee Valley and adjacent areas of North Mississippi. Some readings included:
Deactur...32
Huntsville AP...32
Muscle Shoals...31
Cullman...30
Across Central Alabama...the airmass was a little milder...
Birmingham...39
Tuscaloosa...40
Anniston...41
Skies are cloudy across the entire area. The clouds will act as a blanket overnight, preventing temperatures from falling very far. Good thing.
Radars indicate that an area of mixed snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain is expanding to the west of Alabama. This precipitation will arrive in western sections of the state before 9 p.m. Bad thing.
No reporting stations in Mississippi were observing precipitation at 7 p.m.
Much of the initial wave of precipitation will evaporate before reaching the ground. A process called evaporative cooling will allow temperatures to fall 2-3 degrees as this occurs. This will allow areas in the middle 30s to cool to near freezing.
The precipitation is light, but where it falls into freezing air near the surface, the phenomenon of freezing rain will occur. This can cause bridges and elevated highways to ice quickly.
The greatest threat of that is icing is north of a line from Millport to Berry to Warrior to Gadsden, where temperatures are expected to be near freezing at the onset of precipitation. But, temperatures should dip to near freezing for a short time as far south as Tuscaloosa... Birmingham... Odenville and Jacksonville. Icing could occur briefly along and north of this line also.
If you are traveling across North or Central Alabama later tonight and Monday morning, check the latest forecasts and road conditions before heading out. Take it easy when driving and be alert for ice.
Deactur...32
Huntsville AP...32
Muscle Shoals...31
Cullman...30
Across Central Alabama...the airmass was a little milder...
Birmingham...39
Tuscaloosa...40
Anniston...41
Skies are cloudy across the entire area. The clouds will act as a blanket overnight, preventing temperatures from falling very far. Good thing.
Radars indicate that an area of mixed snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain is expanding to the west of Alabama. This precipitation will arrive in western sections of the state before 9 p.m. Bad thing.
No reporting stations in Mississippi were observing precipitation at 7 p.m.
Much of the initial wave of precipitation will evaporate before reaching the ground. A process called evaporative cooling will allow temperatures to fall 2-3 degrees as this occurs. This will allow areas in the middle 30s to cool to near freezing.
The precipitation is light, but where it falls into freezing air near the surface, the phenomenon of freezing rain will occur. This can cause bridges and elevated highways to ice quickly.
The greatest threat of that is icing is north of a line from Millport to Berry to Warrior to Gadsden, where temperatures are expected to be near freezing at the onset of precipitation. But, temperatures should dip to near freezing for a short time as far south as Tuscaloosa... Birmingham... Odenville and Jacksonville. Icing could occur briefly along and north of this line also.
If you are traveling across North or Central Alabama later tonight and Monday morning, check the latest forecasts and road conditions before heading out. Take it easy when driving and be alert for ice.
by Bill Murray
in General Thoughts
Late Afternoon Look at Alabama Weather--6 o'clock Report
February 19, 2006, 7:04 pm
At 6 o'clock, little or no precipitation in Alabama.
Scattered light precipitation was developing over South Arkansas, North Louisiana and maybe Extreme West Central Mississippi...spreading east.
The NWS, Birmingham issued a Special Weather Statement pointing out the possibility of patchy light freezing rain or drizzle possible late tonight across North Central Alabama, mostly after 10 pm.
Mostly north of a Milport-Berry-Warrior-Gadsden line, but possibly some also as far south as Tuscaloosa-Birmingham-Jacksonville.
Earlier, the NWS, Huntsville has posted a Winter Weather Advisory for tonight and early Saturday for Extreme North Alabama roughly from Cullman County northward.
Some of the towns/cities included:
Florence
Russellville
Athens
Decatur
Huntsville
Guntersville
Scottsboro
Fort Payne
Upper level disturbance moving across tonight will create some light precipitation.
Cold enough in those areas for it to be light freezing rain or freezing drizzle.
Back to all rain around mid-morning Monday.
Scattered light precipitation was developing over South Arkansas, North Louisiana and maybe Extreme West Central Mississippi...spreading east.
The NWS, Birmingham issued a Special Weather Statement pointing out the possibility of patchy light freezing rain or drizzle possible late tonight across North Central Alabama, mostly after 10 pm.
Mostly north of a Milport-Berry-Warrior-Gadsden line, but possibly some also as far south as Tuscaloosa-Birmingham-Jacksonville.
Earlier, the NWS, Huntsville has posted a Winter Weather Advisory for tonight and early Saturday for Extreme North Alabama roughly from Cullman County northward.
Some of the towns/cities included:
Florence
Russellville
Athens
Decatur
Huntsville
Guntersville
Scottsboro
Fort Payne
Upper level disturbance moving across tonight will create some light precipitation.
Cold enough in those areas for it to be light freezing rain or freezing drizzle.
Back to all rain around mid-morning Monday.
by J.B. Elliott
in Winter Weather
Late Afternoon Alabama Update--4:30 pm Report
February 19, 2006, 5:38 pm
Still no precipitation anywhere in Alabama at 4:30 pm.
That should change tonight.
The NWS, Huntsville has posted a Winter Weather Advisory for tonight and early Saturday for Extreme North Alabama roughly from Cullman County northward.
Some of the towns/cities included:
Florence
Russellville
Athens
Decatur
Huntsville
Guntersville
Scottsboro
Fort Payne
Upper level disturbance moving across tonight will create some light precipitation.
Cold enough in those areas for it to be light freezing rain or freezing drizzle.
Back to all rain around mid-morning Monday.
Here we go again.
We will watch and wait.
That should change tonight.
The NWS, Huntsville has posted a Winter Weather Advisory for tonight and early Saturday for Extreme North Alabama roughly from Cullman County northward.
Some of the towns/cities included:
Florence
Russellville
Athens
Decatur
Huntsville
Guntersville
Scottsboro
Fort Payne
Upper level disturbance moving across tonight will create some light precipitation.
Cold enough in those areas for it to be light freezing rain or freezing drizzle.
Back to all rain around mid-morning Monday.
Here we go again.
We will watch and wait.
by J.B. Elliott
in Winter Weather
Sunday Afternoon Update--a 2:15 pm Report
February 19, 2006, 3:18 pm
It is precipitationless across Alabama this afternoon. Another one of those Havana Junction words that I am pretty sure does not exist. But, you get my drift. Remember, we wrote our own dictionary down there.
While it is dry, it is still plenty cold.
The temperature was only 28 at 2 pm at the NWS Office at UAH in Huntsville. It was in the mid 30s across Central Alabama.
More precipitation for tonight...most of it late tonight and even after midnight. Could start off as light freezing rain over the north.
So stay tuned.
Lowest temperature that I could find in Alabama this morning was 11 at a private weather station on Monte Sano in Huntsville.
The final low at Birmingham Airport was 22, our coldest so far this winter by one degree. Pinson had 21.
While it is dry, it is still plenty cold.
The temperature was only 28 at 2 pm at the NWS Office at UAH in Huntsville. It was in the mid 30s across Central Alabama.
More precipitation for tonight...most of it late tonight and even after midnight. Could start off as light freezing rain over the north.
So stay tuned.
Lowest temperature that I could find in Alabama this morning was 11 at a private weather station on Monte Sano in Huntsville.
The final low at Birmingham Airport was 22, our coldest so far this winter by one degree. Pinson had 21.
Cold Weather For Another Day
February 19, 2006, 11:49 am
The Sunday map discussion video is on the server at:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Back from church this morning, so the video map discussion should be posted in a few minutes. Really cold this morning as that cold, dry air filtered southward last night. 25 degrees for the low at my house and Brimingham down to 22 for the coldest reading of the current winter season. Fortunately, with dewpoints falling last night and only a few sprinkles there were no icing issues from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Anniston. All of the problems were confined to the mixed precipitation that fell yesterday morning and early afternoon along the Tennessee River Valley counties. And with a little sunshine as they get some breaks in the clouds this morning, perhaps the ice will have an opportunity to melt. Of course, that intoduces another problem that any water on the highways this evening when the sun goes down could turn to ice very quickly creating patchy but dangerous driving problems. Just try to take it easy if you have to be out.
Models are in fairly good agreement during the short term with slow moderation of the air mass and two bands of precipitation, one over Tennessee/Kentucky and one mainly across the southern half of Alabama. With the cold temperatures in Kentucky and Tennessee it could mean travel problems for them, but hopefully temperatures will get above freezing for our area before the precip becomes significant.
Those breaks in the clouds will help some spots warm a couple of extra degrees. However, if your area stays under the clouds today, don't expect to see temperatures climb much higher than the mid or upper 30s.
The wet pattern continues through the middle of week until Thursday when an upper level trough finally makes its way across the southeast. Timing the rain chances will be tricky, as I don't expect to see rain from Monday through Thursday - just off and on periods of light rain with perhaps some thunder possible Wednesday and Thursday with the trough passing.
Friday dries out here, but the model suggests a change from a zonal flow pattern to a higher amplitude pattern and with it some more cold weather for next weekend. However there does not appear to be moisture with it so I'm not looking for any winter weather threats outside of cold temperatures.
Longer range GFS still suggesting a stormy start to March - something to watch as the GFS has been consistent with that for the last several model runs.
Stay warm for another couple of days as we look for slow moderation to the air mass. But definitely don't be putting those winter clothese away! Have a great Sunday.
-Brian-