We will take this space today to define the weather problems you will encounter if you are traveling today and tomorrow for Thanksgiving. Across the deep south, including Alabama, heavy rain at times will continue to create the possibility of flash flooding through tomorrow. This is the general area from Texas eastward through Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and into Georgia. Rain over Tennessee and Kentucky should be lighter.

We need to stress that there is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms today over parts of east Texas, Louisiana, and the southern half of Mississippi. A few damaging tornadoes are possible in this region, and it is likely tornado watches will be required later today. Airport delays are possible in cities like Houston, New Orleans, and Jackson. Houston had a significant severe weather and flood event yesterday with both Intercontinental and Hobby reporting backups. A line of severe storms will sweep eastward, affecting parts of Alabama, Tennessee, and the Florida panhandle tomorrow morning. Some airport delays will be possible here in Birmingham, and also up I-65 at Nashville.

On the north side of the strong upper air storm in the colder air, heavy snow will develop today from the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles across northern Oklahoma and parts of Kansas, where winter storm watches are in effect. Snow amounts of 2 to 6 inches are likely in this area during the next 24 hours. A little snow could fall at Denver, but it is not expected to create any airport delays.

Major cities up north like Chicago and Detroit will be on the northern edge of the storm system with some light rain likely tomorrow, but it should not be enough to create any travel issues.

Very busy this afternoon with flooding issues. Our Tuscaloosa wxnet station is now over 2 inches (2.11", and we have over 1 inch at Riverchase here at our studio (1.16". If this warm front between Mongtomery and Birmingham doesn't move north overnight, we could have some very serious flooding issues here by tomorrow.

Severe weather threat still looks on target for early Wednesday morning. See the seven day discussion for more.

Some heavy rain has occurred over extreme North Jefferson County and points north early this morning. We have a report of 1.20 inches in Clay in only one hour. That community is in extreme NE Jefferson County. At my location in NE Trussville, only a fraction of that amount so far this morning but we had 2.40 for Sunday.

The ground is soft and mushy all across Central Alabama and we must watch our upcoming rain events closely. There are indications that we could receive three additional inches or more of rain between now and later in the day Wednesday. We will watch and wait.

Down near the coast, Sunday's rain at Mobile Airport (the official records site) sent the 2004 total to a whopping 71.29 inches which is more than 11 inches wettern than normal!

If you looked up "inclement weather" in the dictionary, it would probably refer you to Sunday across most of Alabama. Difficult to schedule Little Miss Molly on her walks. Instead just quick dashes to the edge of the house to "do her business"

However, we did get in one half mile trek before the heavier rain set in. (A total of 2.40 inches in My Tiny Corner of the World.) It was a steady light rain and we both love to walk in the rain. I am even prone to singing at a time such as that.

Sunday afternoon, after the downpour gave way to light rain, here we go on another half mile walk. The Old Crow Creek was really flowing. (That's a wet weather stream than comes down off the east side of a mountain behind our place.) It is near the Old Crow Motel. It was natural to name it that.

We heard one lone bird trying to sing but it sounded more like a gargle. At least he was "singing in the rain."

Life goes on with puppies, birds, humans despite buckets of rain.

The morning video update is complete and on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

Been studying the model output this morning; looks like our greatest risk of severe storms will come from about midnight tomorrow (Tuesday) night through 12 noon on Wednesday.

The good news is that the air tends to be more stable during the pre-dawn hours, which might prevent a major threat. But, other than the time of the day many other severe weather parameters are in place. I still think the main threat will be from damaging straight line winds due to a rapidly advancing squall line during the early, early morning hours Wednesday.

The ETA is a little faster, the GFS a little slower. The instability values are marginal for a big severe weather problem, but often the models underestimate instability this time of the year. Should the models continue to trend slower, and this turns out to be a daytime event on Wednesday, then the threat could be more significant.

SPC has west Alabama in a slight risk tomorrow night, and all of Alabama in a slight risk on Wednesday.

If you will be on the road (or in the air), this system could produce some fairly generous snow amounts over the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, northern Oklahoma, and southern Kansas.