How would you like a forecast like this one?


Thanks to SMSgt Steve Muller for sending this to us... and especially for his service to our country.

I was looking at the weather back home and though I would share with you our weather.
Currently there are 12 Air Force troops for the 25 th Aerial Port Squadron deployed to
Al Dhafra, UAE. We have been here since the 13 of January, and God willing be home late
May. Our primary job is moving passangers and cargo all through the AOR. At least once
a week we have sand storms, the picture included is one of the milder ones:

The National Weather Service continues to track a potentially tornadic storm this evening over the Tennessee Valley.

The latest warning is a Tornado Warning for Limestone and Madison Counties until 7:15 p.m.

Spotters reported well defined rotation with this storm and it could produce a tornado at any time.

It will move east northeast.

Interesting storm back south of Tupelo, Mississippi also. There is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning on this storm. It will eventually affect Lamar or Marion County.

Showers and thunderstorms were increasing over West and NW Alabama late this afternoon.

The strongest ones were NW of Birmingham over parts of Walker and Winston County.

A Tornado Watch was posted that touches the very NW tip of Alabama.

Showers and thunderstorms willspread into tjhe Birmingham arewa during the next hour or so.

The Friday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

Scattered showers and storms have formed over the northern half of Alabama and into East Mississippi this afternoon in advance of a surface front. We will maintain the chance of scattered showers and storms tonight, but with limited instability, marginal wind fields, and most of the real dynamic forcing well to the north, we don't expect a problem with severe weather.

Rainfall amounts will be around one inch over the far northern part of the state... amount down this way should be between a quarter and a half inch.

THE WEEKEND: I think most of the weekend will be dry. Just a few isolated or widely scattered showers tomorrow and Sunday. Highs will be in the 75 to 82 degree range both days.

NEXT WEEK: Another weak front could trigger a few scattered showers or storms on Monday, but once again the main show will be well to the north of Alabama. The middle of the week will be dry (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday); then another weak system approaches at the end of the week with a chance of showers.

Still no sign of any major severe weather or flooding problems through mid-April. Temperatures should remain above normal; rainfall below normal.

Thanks to the kids at Riverchase Elementary; I had the chance to speak to the entire student body this morning and they were great. Watch for them on the KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News.

Headed out shortly for a live shot at Carver High School in Birmingham... for a special fund raiser for their choir. This has been a very busy week... I am looking forward to a little down time this weekend. Brian Peters will handle the map discussions this weekend; I will have my next one on the server by Monday morning at 7:00!

The Friday morning map discussion video is on the server:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

Same story today... for the next two weeks the pattern favors above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall here. The primary storm track remains from Oklahoma to Wisconsin; that is where the greatest chance of severe storms will be through mid-April.

TODAY/TONIGHT: I think the day will be dry as we head toward 80 degrees again. Tonight, a band of showers and storms will ease into the Tennessee Valley of extreme north Alabama. These showers and storms should be weakening as they drop southward. SPC has a slight risk of severe storms in their outlook today for parts of North Alabama, but once again I really doubt we see any severe weather problems this far south with the main dynamics so far north, and with the wind fields weakening.

THE WEEKEND: The surface boundary will stall out and dissipate tomorrow. The daytime heating process could bring a few widely scattered showers during the afternoon as the surface based CAPE heads toward 500, but many places will be dry tomorow. Pretty much the same story on Sunday. Highs this weekend will be in the 76 to 82 degree range for most communities.

NEXT WEEK: Another decaying front could bring a few scattered showers or storms on Monday, but no severe weather or heavy rain. The middle of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) should be dry. And, yet another weak front brings a chance of showers at the end of the week on Friday.

LONG RANGE: No real pattern change through April 15 on the latest GFS runs. Most of the dynamic weather situations will remain west and north of Alabama; ridging generally hold over the southeast U.S. But, the pattern can, and probably will change during the latter half of April.

NEW SKYCAM: A new SKYCAM station will be coming online today; it will be atop the Wingate Inn, behind Joe's Crab Shack on U.S. 280 in Shelby County in the Inverness area. The view on that ridge is incredible, and a great view of the U.S. 280 traffic situation as well. Many more sites will be coming online in the next few weeks. And, yes, they will be available on the Internet. We hope to have the Internet data available within the next two weeks.

Headed out to Riverchase Elementary this morning for a weather program; I will be back in the office for the afternoon map discussion video which should be posted by 3:30 today!