FYI... I just posted the Storm Alert 2005 hour-long TV special that aired on ABC 33/40 in late March...
It is on the video page:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Storm Alert 2005 Video Online
April 26, 2005, 10:36 pm
by James Spann
in General Thoughts
Too Many Warnings?
April 26, 2005, 9:33 pm
The last F5 tornado around here was on April 8, 1998. A total of 32 people were killed that night in Jefferson county in the western suburbs of Birmingham, in places like Oak Grove, Rock Creek, Sylvan Springs, McDonald Chapel, Edgewater, and Pratt City. The same parent thunderstorm dropped another tornado east of Birmingham in St. Clair county, killing two people north of Pell City. Plenty of things have changed in the last seven years, especially in the way local media handles tornado coverage.
ABC 33/40 was the only station with continuous coverage the night of April 8, 1998, and at the time the concept of long form tornado coverage was still a novelty since we had only been on the air for less than two years. There is no doubt the “wall to wall” coverage that night on our station was a very successful and crucial part of the warning process.
Now, most of the local TV stations and many local radio stations have joined our bandwagon, and go with long form coverage during tornado warnings. I still don’t think anybody else here promises the wall to wall coverage when ANY county in the designated market area is under a tornado warning. But, there is now plenty of media coverage during tornado warnings, and I am glad this is the case. But, the downside is that this kind of coverage had become “ho-hum”, and I somehow don’t think it has the same impact it had seven years ago. Too many false alarms with tornado warnings, too many severe thunderstorm warnings, and too many moderate to high risks coming from the Storm Prediction Center. I am not blaming anyone at the various NWS offices; but that is the simple truth. We must all work on improving the FAR (false alarm ratio).
For this reason, I am a big proponent of initiating a new formal “tornado emergency” message that will be used when a tornado is on the ground, and confirmed. This will kick the urgency “up a notch”, and get folks attention. The term is used now in a rather informal way, but I think it needs to be in the NWS directory of "official" warnings.
I hope it doesn't take another strong/violent tornado to prevent people from being lulled to sleep on severe weather safety.
ABC 33/40 was the only station with continuous coverage the night of April 8, 1998, and at the time the concept of long form tornado coverage was still a novelty since we had only been on the air for less than two years. There is no doubt the “wall to wall” coverage that night on our station was a very successful and crucial part of the warning process.
Now, most of the local TV stations and many local radio stations have joined our bandwagon, and go with long form coverage during tornado warnings. I still don’t think anybody else here promises the wall to wall coverage when ANY county in the designated market area is under a tornado warning. But, there is now plenty of media coverage during tornado warnings, and I am glad this is the case. But, the downside is that this kind of coverage had become “ho-hum”, and I somehow don’t think it has the same impact it had seven years ago. Too many false alarms with tornado warnings, too many severe thunderstorm warnings, and too many moderate to high risks coming from the Storm Prediction Center. I am not blaming anyone at the various NWS offices; but that is the simple truth. We must all work on improving the FAR (false alarm ratio).
For this reason, I am a big proponent of initiating a new formal “tornado emergency” message that will be used when a tornado is on the ground, and confirmed. This will kick the urgency “up a notch”, and get folks attention. The term is used now in a rather informal way, but I think it needs to be in the NWS directory of "official" warnings.
I hope it doesn't take another strong/violent tornado to prevent people from being lulled to sleep on severe weather safety.
Brighter Days Ahead
April 26, 2005, 2:49 pm
The Tuesday afternoon web video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Wow... just peeked out the ABC 33/40 weather window and the sun is shining after a wet morning. Our rain total here at our studio in Riverchase is just under one inch: 0.96". One more band of showers will roll through this evening, and then we will be dry tomorrow and Thursday with lots of sunshine and warmer afternoons.
NEXT STORM EVENT: The GFS keeps pushing the system along faster and faster. A strong upper air short wave will be over Oklahoma on Friday, and will spin up a deep surface low over Tulsa. The surface low moves to western Kentucky by Friday night, with a trailing cold front to Shreveport and Houston.
Sure looks like a favorable setup for severe storms across much of Alabama, as dewpoints should be in the mid to upper 60s by the time the system arrives. The latest model data now suggests the prime risk of strong to severe storms will come from about 10:00 p.m. Friday through 10:00 a.m. Saturday. We will probably be able to narrow that down even more as the week rolls along. This might be a setup for a few rotating storms, and I would not be shocked if we have to pull an "all nighter" Friday night into Saturday morning.
REST OF THE WEEKEND: It now looks like the rain will be gone by midday Saturday, which is great news for NASCAR fans. This means no rain for both races. The sky should become partly to mostly sunny by Saturday afternoon, and Sunday should feature a good supply of sunshine. Highs over the weekend should be in the 70s.
THE LONG RANGE: Looks really wet toward the middle and end of next week in the May 3-6 time frame; if the GFS is correct we might have some flooding issues....
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Wow... just peeked out the ABC 33/40 weather window and the sun is shining after a wet morning. Our rain total here at our studio in Riverchase is just under one inch: 0.96". One more band of showers will roll through this evening, and then we will be dry tomorrow and Thursday with lots of sunshine and warmer afternoons.
NEXT STORM EVENT: The GFS keeps pushing the system along faster and faster. A strong upper air short wave will be over Oklahoma on Friday, and will spin up a deep surface low over Tulsa. The surface low moves to western Kentucky by Friday night, with a trailing cold front to Shreveport and Houston.
Sure looks like a favorable setup for severe storms across much of Alabama, as dewpoints should be in the mid to upper 60s by the time the system arrives. The latest model data now suggests the prime risk of strong to severe storms will come from about 10:00 p.m. Friday through 10:00 a.m. Saturday. We will probably be able to narrow that down even more as the week rolls along. This might be a setup for a few rotating storms, and I would not be shocked if we have to pull an "all nighter" Friday night into Saturday morning.
REST OF THE WEEKEND: It now looks like the rain will be gone by midday Saturday, which is great news for NASCAR fans. This means no rain for both races. The sky should become partly to mostly sunny by Saturday afternoon, and Sunday should feature a good supply of sunshine. Highs over the weekend should be in the 70s.
THE LONG RANGE: Looks really wet toward the middle and end of next week in the May 3-6 time frame; if the GFS is correct we might have some flooding issues....
A 2 O'CLOCK LOOK
April 26, 2005, 2:05 pm
That line of showers and thunderstorms that marched through Alabama this morning and early this afternoon was all the way east and south of Montgomery at 2 pm.
Only warning noted in the state so far was for Washington County in the SW part of the state.
Rain has now ended in such places as Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Livingston.
However, closer to the cold front, another line of showers formed and those were moving into NW Alabama. Nothing impressive so far.
We could still get more showers and even a thunderstorm until the cold front passes this evening.
Sure has been nice, cool and stable across most of North and Central Alabama today.
We like it that way.
Life goes on.....
Only warning noted in the state so far was for Washington County in the SW part of the state.
Rain has now ended in such places as Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Livingston.
However, closer to the cold front, another line of showers formed and those were moving into NW Alabama. Nothing impressive so far.
We could still get more showers and even a thunderstorm until the cold front passes this evening.
Sure has been nice, cool and stable across most of North and Central Alabama today.
We like it that way.
Life goes on.....
Early Afternoon Update
April 26, 2005, 12:23 pm
At mid-day, that line of showers and thunderstorms had moved all the way over into East Alabama extending SW into the central part of the state.
At 12:15 pm, the line of storms was along a line from east of Anniston...to Rockford in Coosa County...to East of Selma and all the way down to Grove Hill in SW Alabama. Heavy showers and lightning along the line but no real strong wind reports so far.
Rain lingers behind the line as far westward as Jasper, Carrollton, Tuscaloosa, Livingston...but only light to moderate.
The Cold Front...
At noon it had advanced half way across Mississippi. We are watching for possible development of new storms near the front but so far very little has happened.
The more unstable air is down south. We are encouraged that the only Severe Thunderstorm Warning that was in effect at noon was for a county in Extreme South Mississippi.
Birmingham Airport has received 0.71 rainfall so far. Gadsden 0.20.
At 12:15 pm, the line of storms was along a line from east of Anniston...to Rockford in Coosa County...to East of Selma and all the way down to Grove Hill in SW Alabama. Heavy showers and lightning along the line but no real strong wind reports so far.
Rain lingers behind the line as far westward as Jasper, Carrollton, Tuscaloosa, Livingston...but only light to moderate.
The Cold Front...
At noon it had advanced half way across Mississippi. We are watching for possible development of new storms near the front but so far very little has happened.
The more unstable air is down south. We are encouraged that the only Severe Thunderstorm Warning that was in effect at noon was for a county in Extreme South Mississippi.
Birmingham Airport has received 0.71 rainfall so far. Gadsden 0.20.
LATE MORNING UPDATE
April 26, 2005, 11:17 am
The leading edge of a line of showers and thunderstorms was located at 11:15 am from Gadsden to Pell City and Lake Logan Martin down to east of Marion in Perry County. Moving steadily eastward and producing lightning and locally heavy rain but not much wind so far.
Although the line of storms has passed well east of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, it is still raining behind the line as far west as the Mississippi border. In fact, moderate to heavy rain now over Pickens and West Tuscaloosa County.
As of 11 am, Birmingham Airport had received 0.48 of an inch of rain but no real strong winds.
The line of showers and storms will reach Anniston, Talladega, Slyacauga and Rockford soon.
What do we look for next?
A cold front has entered West Mississippi and the front has already passed Greenville and Memphis. We will watch for possible redevelopment along and ahead of the front as it progresses eastward.
Although the line of storms has passed well east of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, it is still raining behind the line as far west as the Mississippi border. In fact, moderate to heavy rain now over Pickens and West Tuscaloosa County.
As of 11 am, Birmingham Airport had received 0.48 of an inch of rain but no real strong winds.
The line of showers and storms will reach Anniston, Talladega, Slyacauga and Rockford soon.
What do we look for next?
A cold front has entered West Mississippi and the front has already passed Greenville and Memphis. We will watch for possible redevelopment along and ahead of the front as it progresses eastward.
Showers, Storms Approaching
April 26, 2005, 9:40 am
At 9:40 this morning, a line of showers and thunderstorms was progressing eastward through West Alabama. The leading edge of the line extended from Livingston and Eutaw to east of Tuscaloosa into West Jefferson County.
They produced about 1/3 inch of rain at Tuscaloosa Airport so far but wind gusts only to about 25 mph. These storms are not severe but they will produce lightning and brief heavy rain.
The storms should be in the Birmingham area by 10 o'clock and also moving into Hale and Bibb County.
The Storm Prediction Center maintains a slight risk of severe weather today for about the south 2/3 of Alabama from about Birmingham southward. However, the atmosphere is still relatively stable across North Central Alabama so the better chance of anything severe may be more to the south.
Regardless, we will watch and wait.
They produced about 1/3 inch of rain at Tuscaloosa Airport so far but wind gusts only to about 25 mph. These storms are not severe but they will produce lightning and brief heavy rain.
The storms should be in the Birmingham area by 10 o'clock and also moving into Hale and Bibb County.
The Storm Prediction Center maintains a slight risk of severe weather today for about the south 2/3 of Alabama from about Birmingham southward. However, the atmosphere is still relatively stable across North Central Alabama so the better chance of anything severe may be more to the south.
Regardless, we will watch and wait.
Rain Returns
April 26, 2005, 5:56 am
The Tuesday morning web video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
As advertised, rain is falling this morning over much of the state. Also as advertised, dewpoints are low and the air is stable, and we don't expect any severe weather around here today. This is despite the fact SPC has the entire state in a slight risk area for severe storms. We could see a little thunder and lightning later today, but any severe storms should be limited to south Alabama, especially near the Florida border closer to a warm front.
Here are the forecast severe weather parameters for later today from the NAM:
SB CAPE 630
Lifted Index -2.3
0 to 3 km Helicity 101.7
SWEAT Index 188
850 mb wind speed 27 kts
Needless to say, nothing to really get excited about.
REST OF THE WEEK: Beautiful spring weather is ahead for tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday with a nice warming trend. We should be close to 80 by Thursday and Friday.
THE WEEKEND: Wow... the GFS shows a faster system now. We will need to bump up the chance of showers and a strong storm on Saturday, and we will take out the chance of rain on Sunday. So... for the big race Sunday at Talladega the weather all of a sudden is looking great, with ample sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. We usually don't change our tune so quickly on just one model run, but we want to give our NASCAR pals the benefit of the doubt.
NEXT WEEK: If the GFS is correct we might have some flooding issues during the middle of next week, with the Gulf wide open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday May 3-5.
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
As advertised, rain is falling this morning over much of the state. Also as advertised, dewpoints are low and the air is stable, and we don't expect any severe weather around here today. This is despite the fact SPC has the entire state in a slight risk area for severe storms. We could see a little thunder and lightning later today, but any severe storms should be limited to south Alabama, especially near the Florida border closer to a warm front.
Here are the forecast severe weather parameters for later today from the NAM:
SB CAPE 630
Lifted Index -2.3
0 to 3 km Helicity 101.7
SWEAT Index 188
850 mb wind speed 27 kts
Needless to say, nothing to really get excited about.
REST OF THE WEEK: Beautiful spring weather is ahead for tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday with a nice warming trend. We should be close to 80 by Thursday and Friday.
THE WEEKEND: Wow... the GFS shows a faster system now. We will need to bump up the chance of showers and a strong storm on Saturday, and we will take out the chance of rain on Sunday. So... for the big race Sunday at Talladega the weather all of a sudden is looking great, with ample sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. We usually don't change our tune so quickly on just one model run, but we want to give our NASCAR pals the benefit of the doubt.
NEXT WEEK: If the GFS is correct we might have some flooding issues during the middle of next week, with the Gulf wide open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday May 3-5.
Page :
1