This is severe weather awareness week in Alabama. A time when all of us need to think about the coming spring tornado season. The two keys to saving your life are having a way of getting the warning, and having a safe place identified for your family available at any time, day or night.
The best way of getting a warning for your home or business is a NOAA Weather Radio. If you have an old analog model, time to upgrade to the new digital models using technology (called S.A.M.E.) that allows you to choose the counties for which the alarm sounds. If you don’t have one at all, it is time to buy your first one. Weather Radio receivers cost around 50 dollars, but they will guarantee you get a tornado warning at any hour of the day or night. Every Alabama home has a fire alarm system, but very few have a NOAA Weather Radio. You will be dealing with more tornado threats than fire threats in your lifetime. NOAA Weather Radio receivers are available at many discount retail stores and electronic stores. GET ONE!
As part of severe weather awareness week, National Weather Service offices around the southern U.S. will be testing the NOAA Weather Alarm this morning at 9:30. There is a chance the test will be moved to Friday morning due to the clouds and rain expected today. This test will give you a chance to be sure your Weather Radio system is working. And, when the alarm goes off we ask that you take the time to think about where you would go in the event of a real warning.
This NOAA Weather Radio test will take the place of the statewide tornado drill, which is usually held on the Wednesday of severe weather awareness week. There will not be a statewide tornado drill this year.
You can learn more about severe weather safety today at McFarland Mall in Tuscaloosa; this event is sponsored by the Tuscaloosa County EMA and we will be there doing the weather live at 12:00, 5:00, and 6:00 on ABC 33/40!
No Statewide Tornado Drill This Year
February 21, 2006, 10:58 pm
by James Spann
in Severe Weather
A Glimpse Of The Sun
February 21, 2006, 3:58 pm
The Tuesday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
I actually saw the sun for about 2 minutes today coming back from the weather program down at Vincent Elementary School. Looking at visible satellite images, looks like people north of Birmingham have actually seen several hours of sunshine. Very nice. But, don't get used to it.
Radar shows rain increasing in coverage over Arkansas and the eastern part of Oklahoma this afternoon, and that wave will bring rain to Alabama late tonight and tomorrow. The NAM prints 0.39" with this system here tomorrow, while the GFS is much more bullish with 1.05". One way or another we should be wet at times tomorrow.
The forecast remains a challenge beyond tomorrow. Seems like rain remains a good possibility Thursday, especially during the morning hours. Then, the models are backing off on the amount of rain for the I-20 corridor on Friday and Saturday. But, we sure won't drop the mention of rain... confidence is low due to the very fast flow and weak perturbations in that flow.
The GFS and the Euro are also backing down a bit on the degree of cooling here Sunday and Monday. The amplitude is not as great... so we will bump numbers up a bit for those days. I still think we go down in the 20s early Monday if we can get a clear sky and light wind.
SPRING FEVER? Some hint of a nice warm-up next week, with the potential for 70s around here by Tuesday and Wednesday (7 to 8 days from now). That sure sounds nice. But, very cold air contines to hang over us in Canada, and that might set the stage for some type of severe weather event here as we get into March. The 12Z GFS still shows some potential for the first severe weather event of the season in the March 5-7 time frame.
We really haven't had an active spring tornado season since 1998... lets hope this is not the year we break out of that. But we have to be ready if that indeed is the case.
NO TORNADO DRILL TOMORROW: The NWS has decided NOT to hold a statewide tornado drill tomorrow. However, they will be testing NOAA Weather Radio's alarm feature at exactly 9:30 tomorrow morning. That is still a great time to think about what you would do in the event of a real warning.
The ABC 33/40 Weather Team will be at McFarland Mall in Tuscaloosa tomorrow as part of the Tuscaloosa County EMA's annual severe weather awareness event. Drop by and say hello if you are around the southern part of Tuscaloosa.
STORM ALERT 2006: Our severe weather awareness show comes to Gadsden this week; we will be at the Gadsden Convention Hall at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Be sure and come early to get a good seat; we have free t-shirts for the first 500 people who come.
Thanks to the kids down at Vincent Elementary today... they were a great audience and they will be on the KIDCAM on ABC 33/40 News today at 5:00! The next video will be on the server by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow....
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
I actually saw the sun for about 2 minutes today coming back from the weather program down at Vincent Elementary School. Looking at visible satellite images, looks like people north of Birmingham have actually seen several hours of sunshine. Very nice. But, don't get used to it.
Radar shows rain increasing in coverage over Arkansas and the eastern part of Oklahoma this afternoon, and that wave will bring rain to Alabama late tonight and tomorrow. The NAM prints 0.39" with this system here tomorrow, while the GFS is much more bullish with 1.05". One way or another we should be wet at times tomorrow.
The forecast remains a challenge beyond tomorrow. Seems like rain remains a good possibility Thursday, especially during the morning hours. Then, the models are backing off on the amount of rain for the I-20 corridor on Friday and Saturday. But, we sure won't drop the mention of rain... confidence is low due to the very fast flow and weak perturbations in that flow.
The GFS and the Euro are also backing down a bit on the degree of cooling here Sunday and Monday. The amplitude is not as great... so we will bump numbers up a bit for those days. I still think we go down in the 20s early Monday if we can get a clear sky and light wind.
SPRING FEVER? Some hint of a nice warm-up next week, with the potential for 70s around here by Tuesday and Wednesday (7 to 8 days from now). That sure sounds nice. But, very cold air contines to hang over us in Canada, and that might set the stage for some type of severe weather event here as we get into March. The 12Z GFS still shows some potential for the first severe weather event of the season in the March 5-7 time frame.
We really haven't had an active spring tornado season since 1998... lets hope this is not the year we break out of that. But we have to be ready if that indeed is the case.
NO TORNADO DRILL TOMORROW: The NWS has decided NOT to hold a statewide tornado drill tomorrow. However, they will be testing NOAA Weather Radio's alarm feature at exactly 9:30 tomorrow morning. That is still a great time to think about what you would do in the event of a real warning.
The ABC 33/40 Weather Team will be at McFarland Mall in Tuscaloosa tomorrow as part of the Tuscaloosa County EMA's annual severe weather awareness event. Drop by and say hello if you are around the southern part of Tuscaloosa.
STORM ALERT 2006: Our severe weather awareness show comes to Gadsden this week; we will be at the Gadsden Convention Hall at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Be sure and come early to get a good seat; we have free t-shirts for the first 500 people who come.
Thanks to the kids down at Vincent Elementary today... they were a great audience and they will be on the KIDCAM on ABC 33/40 News today at 5:00! The next video will be on the server by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow....
Another Drizzly Morning
February 21, 2006, 7:35 am
The Tuesday morning map discussion video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Is drizzly a word? If not, it should be.
Actually, I think much of the day today will be dry. We have a little light rain and drizzle on the radar this morning, but that should be over by 8:00 or so. We might even see a glimpse of the sun this afternoon. But, don't hold your breath.
The rest of the week still looks relatively wet. The most widespread rain will most likely come tomorrow and on Friday, but showers are certainly possible on Thursday, especially during the morning.
The GFS MOS numbers still look way too warm, and I will lean on the ole NAM. I do think we reach the 50s today and tomorrow, but 60 is a stretch.
WEEKEND: Another shot of cold air rolls in here Saturday night and Sunday. Not as cold as the air we dealt with this past weekend, but I do think it will get us well down in the 20s by Monday morning of next week with a clear sky and light wind.
A few showers are likely Saturday, especially during the morning, but we should be dry Saturday night and Sunday.
LONG RANGE: The GFS continues to hint at a severe weather setup for the Deep South in the March 6-7 time frame, with a shot of much colder air to follow. This trend is being established and we will keep an eye on it. For first time readers, there is no skill in a speific forecast beyond seven days, but we look for model trends and patterns. The one thing that is constant is the vast supply of cold air over much of Canada as we get into March.
I sure get the idea the first half of March will feature some wild weather swings; everything from mild days to very cold days, and some stormy days thrown in there as well. And, don't forget our biggest snow on record here came in mid-March. I am not saying it will snow here in March, but I am just saying that is a possibility always on the table.
SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK: Don't forget this is severe weather awareness week in Alabama. We will be in Tuscaloosa tomorrow at an event sponsored by the Tuscaloosa County EMA. This will be at McFarland Mall; you can see our Storm Chaser van on display and meet the weather team. Jason Simpson will be doing the weather live at 12 noon, and I will be there at 5:00 and 6:00.
STORM ALERT 2006: And, our annual severe weather awareness tour comes to Gadsden Thursday night... the show begins at 7:00 at the Gadsden Convention Hall, but get there early for a good seat and a t-shirt.
TODAY: I will be speaking to the kids at Vincent Elementary School in Shelby County this morning... I will be back in the office for the next video update and discussion, which will be posted by 3:30!
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Is drizzly a word? If not, it should be.
Actually, I think much of the day today will be dry. We have a little light rain and drizzle on the radar this morning, but that should be over by 8:00 or so. We might even see a glimpse of the sun this afternoon. But, don't hold your breath.
The rest of the week still looks relatively wet. The most widespread rain will most likely come tomorrow and on Friday, but showers are certainly possible on Thursday, especially during the morning.
The GFS MOS numbers still look way too warm, and I will lean on the ole NAM. I do think we reach the 50s today and tomorrow, but 60 is a stretch.
WEEKEND: Another shot of cold air rolls in here Saturday night and Sunday. Not as cold as the air we dealt with this past weekend, but I do think it will get us well down in the 20s by Monday morning of next week with a clear sky and light wind.
A few showers are likely Saturday, especially during the morning, but we should be dry Saturday night and Sunday.
LONG RANGE: The GFS continues to hint at a severe weather setup for the Deep South in the March 6-7 time frame, with a shot of much colder air to follow. This trend is being established and we will keep an eye on it. For first time readers, there is no skill in a speific forecast beyond seven days, but we look for model trends and patterns. The one thing that is constant is the vast supply of cold air over much of Canada as we get into March.
I sure get the idea the first half of March will feature some wild weather swings; everything from mild days to very cold days, and some stormy days thrown in there as well. And, don't forget our biggest snow on record here came in mid-March. I am not saying it will snow here in March, but I am just saying that is a possibility always on the table.
SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK: Don't forget this is severe weather awareness week in Alabama. We will be in Tuscaloosa tomorrow at an event sponsored by the Tuscaloosa County EMA. This will be at McFarland Mall; you can see our Storm Chaser van on display and meet the weather team. Jason Simpson will be doing the weather live at 12 noon, and I will be there at 5:00 and 6:00.
STORM ALERT 2006: And, our annual severe weather awareness tour comes to Gadsden Thursday night... the show begins at 7:00 at the Gadsden Convention Hall, but get there early for a good seat and a t-shirt.
TODAY: I will be speaking to the kids at Vincent Elementary School in Shelby County this morning... I will be back in the office for the next video update and discussion, which will be posted by 3:30!
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