Lots of storms over the upper midwest yesterday with that area projected under a moderate risk of severe weather today by the Storm Prediction Center. Two clusters of storms yesterday according to storm reports - one over the upper midwest and one primarily over Louisiana with a complex of thunderstorms. A scattering of severe weather reports across a portion of the Carolinas, too.
For Alabama it looks like today will be a close copy of yesterday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected with showers being more numerous in the south and southeast sections of Alabama.
Our attention is also drawn to the tropics where that disturbed area of weather in the western Carribbean Sea has become more concentrated according to the latest satellite images. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate that area today. Winds aloft have become more favorable, and there is a possibility of seeing a depression form in that area in the next 18 to 36 hours. If this area strengthens and a depression forms into a tropical storm, it would be the third named storm of the 2005 hurricane season. It would be called Cindy.
Some differences in the models on the future course of the disturbed area in the tropics, so it is something we'll want to watch over the next few days. GFS seems to build the ridge further to the west keeping any storm that forms in the western Gulf and threatening central Texas coast. NAM a little less strong on the ridge allowing the system to come toward the Louisiana coast. We'll be watching with keen interest to see how later model runs handle the system.
Have a safe Fourth of July - Happy Independence Day!
-Brian-