The possible severe thunderstorm that was over West Jefferson County has dissipated.

To the northeast, a strong storm remains near where Blount, St. Clair and Etowah counties join. This is east of Oneonta. It was moving west. This is the same storm that triggered the Severe Thunderstorm for North St. Clair County that expired at 10:30 pm.

A cluster of strong storms remained over West Dekalb County in far NE Alabama and another all the way across the state along the Greene-Sumter County in West Central Alabama.

All of these thunderstorms should fade away later tonight...probably by midnight.

Today we say “so long” to the spring 2006 tornado season. And, it was another quiet one. I saw a nice article yesterday morning in the Birmingham News by Jeff Hansen on the subject, in which NWS meteorologist Kristina Sumrall reported only 16 tornadoes in the Birmingham CWA (County Warning Area). There was one indirect fatality due to a woman driving her car into a fallen tree between Haleyville and Hamilton; otherwise there were only two injuries in Birmingham’s CWA.

Our last major spring tornado was eight years ago: the April 8, 1998 F5 that killed 32 people in Jefferson County (two more were killed by another tornado from the same parent storm in St. Clair County for a total death toll of 34). The major tornadoes in the last eight years have come during the fall; the “secondary” tornado season during November and December. We all remember the December 16, 2000 F4 that killed 11 people in Tuscaloosa, and other major Alabama tornado outbreaks on November 24, 2001 and November 20, 2002.

So, whats the deal? The bottom line is that strong/violent tornadoes are relatively rare events, and we can go for long periods without significant tornadoes. During my first 10 years in this business, from 1979 through 1989, there were hardly any major tornadoes, including both the spring and fall seasons. The Huntsville F4 tornado on November 15, 1989 ended the quiet period.

Active spring tornado seasons will return. Not a matter of if, but a matter of when. The greatest concern during these long periods of quiet weather is complacency. We hope it doesn’t take another F5 with dozens of deaths for Alabamians to think about a severe weather plan for their family or business.

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for part of Central and Western Jefferson County until 10:15 pm.

Affecting mainly places like Forestdale, Adamsville Graysville.

The storm was moving west at 10 and may produce large hail.

Another Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect for Northeast St. Clair County until 10:30. It was located near Steele in the Extreme North part of St. Clair County and moving west at 10. Places that this storm may affect:

Steele
Ashville
Interstate 59 near exit 174
Chandler Mountain Lake

At 9:50 tonight, there was only one lone thunderstorm in the entire Greater Birmingham area and it appeared to be severe.

It was located near Brookside in NW Jefferson County and moving west at 10 mph.

Forestdale, Adamsville and Graysville may be affected.

This storm may have penny size hail.

The NWS posted the Severe Thunderstorm Warning for central Jefferson County until 10:15.

On the present track, it should not affect the immediate Birmingham area...instead mostly the west part of the county.

We often refer to the weather this time of year as HHH (Triple-H)...the old Hot, Humid, Hazy stuff that we have to deal with.

Late this afternoon a few isolated thunderstorms (slow movers) formed over Extreme North Alabama.

The NWS, Huntsville, issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Lawrence County in NW Alabama until 6:30 pm. The public reported the storm 6 miles west of Moulton moving slowly NW at only 5 mph.

It may have quarter-size hail and wind gusts to 60 mph.

The Tuesday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:

http://www.jamesspann.com/

A reminder... I will be on vacation beginning tomorrow. I return for duty Monday June 5. Brian Peters will be handling the map discussion video duties while I am away. Brian doesn't keep the insane hours I deal with daily; his post times might be a bit different.

TONIGHT/TOMORROW: No real change; the upper air high seems to have squashed most of the afternoon storms today, although one good one has formed near Harpersville and Vincent as I write this. It is tiny, however, and any additional storms this evening should be isolated. Same deal tomorrow. Hot and hazy with low 90s, and only isolated afternoon storms.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: The heat begins to back off as heights lower and a surface "c" front approaches from the north. It dawned on me that people watching the video might think I was saying "sea" front instead of "c" front. I just don't like using "cold front" in late May or June around here. No such thing.

Scattered to numerous showers and storms are likely late Thursday into Friday; hopefully many communities will see 1/2 inch of rain or so. Maybe more in spots.

WEEKEND: Nice weather for early June. The "c" front moves down to near Mobile, and we enjoy lower humidity and cooler nights Saturday and Sunday. No rain, highs in the mid to upper 80s, early morning lows in the low 60s. Maybe even some upper 50s for the cooler valleys.

NEXT WEEK: The upper ridge begins to rebuild, and we go back into the low 90s by mid-week. A few afternoon storms might show up by Tuesday or Wednesday, but nothing widespread with the warmer air aloft.

WESTERN GULF: Looks like the surface trough is inland. Earlier today winds gusted to over 40 mph along the middle Texas coast. Even with no surface tropical development, a big conveyor belt of copious tropical moisture is aimed at the Texas coast, where some flooding might become a problem in the next few days.

Once again, thanks in advance to John Oldshue, J.B. Elliott, Bill Murray, and Brian Peters for covering during the next few days! They will keep the blog very active, I am sure....

From one of our readers, John Seagle:



John reports: "I was not at home at the time, but was at work.  I had a old apple tree that uprooted and fall, trapping my dog in his dog house.  My neighbor ran over to our backyard and freed our dog from his dog house.  I'm happy to say that our dog is ok.  It could have been allot worse, the tree could have fall on our house or worse, hurt the dog.  I for one say that I am very blessed.  (Thank God) 

I got a BIG clean-up ahead for today. I know you like readers of the blog to share pictures, but this is one picture I did not want to have to share. That's life and as JB says, life just go on..."

The Tuesday morning map discussion video is on the server:

http://www.jamesspann.com/

Remember this song by War from 1977?

"Ridin' 'round town with all the windows down
Eight track playin' all your fav'rite sounds
The rhythm of the bongos fill the park
The street musicians tryin' to get a start

'Cause it's summer
Summer time is here
Yes, it's summer
My time of year
Yes, it's summer
My time of year"

You don't hear too many songs these days refering to "eight tracks"!

Yep, summer is here. For most folks, summer is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "Meteorological summer" is from June 1 through the end of August. In terms of astronomy, the summer solstice is at 7:26 a.m. on June 21.

TODAY/TOMORROW: Seems like the height field goes up, and temperatures aloft are a little warmer today and tomorrow, so afternoon storms will probably be pretty sparse. Temperatures head for the low 90s both days with lots of hazy sunshine.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: A "c" front moves out way. Lets don't use the word "cold", but a nice front will bring an increase in the number of showers and storms by Thursday and Friday as an upper air trough forms over the eastern U.S. The latest computer guidance continues to push the front into deep South Alabama by Friday night.

WEEKEND: If the "c" front does indeed move to Brewton and Atmore, as suggested by the GFS, our weekend will be very nice. Lower humidity, cooler nights, and lots of sunshine with no afternoon storms. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s, early morning lows well down in the 60s.

The heat and humidity will slowly rise early next week, however.

WESTERN GULF: You can't ignore the ongoing convecction in the western Gulf this morning; some of the stations on the middle Texas coast are reporting winds gusting to almost 30 mph this morning, and surface pressures are lower over the western Gulf. Could this be tropical storm Alberto in the making? Lets keep an eye on it during the day and see what happens. Remember, early season systems are making big rain-makers. The really dangerous hurricanes usually hold off until August and September.

I will have the next afternoon map discussion video posted by 3:30 or so this afternoon. Then, I go on vacation for the rest of the week; Brian Peters will have the web covered with video updates and podcasts. John Oldshue, Bill Murray, and J.B. Elliott will be covering the various radio and TV shifts....

Be sure and scroll down and read my article on summer weather forecasting in Alabama. Tis the season!