Final 2004 Thoughts...

Hard to believe I am writing one of my last posts here for 2004. I will work the night shift Friday night on ABC 33/40, but next week I will be on vacation. I have not worked a Christmas Eve shift in about 15 years; I am actually looking forward to working with our radar equipment looking for you know who on his sleigh. One thing is for sure, Santa will feel right at home around here this year.

I am sure Bill Murray and J.B. Elliott will spend some time next week looking back at the big weather stories for 2004. There is no doubt the big one for Alabama was Hurricane Ivan, a classical long-lived Cape Verde hurricane that scored a direct hit on the Alabama Gulf coast on September 16. Ivan was an upper category three storm at landfall with sustained winds of around 130 mph.

Hurricane Ivan will compare with the worst hurricanes to ever to affect the Alabama Gulf coast since 1900, including Frederic in September 1979, Opal in October 1995, and the September 1926 hurricane. Ivan produced estimated maximum winds of 60 to 80 mph generally southwest of line from Prattville to Livingston. A few spots may have reached 90 mph in this area. Most other locations across central Alabama had estimated maximum wind speeds of 50 to 60 mph, with a few isolated spots reaching 75 mph. Tree and power line damage was extensive. Flooding was also serious, with rainfall amounts nearing 10 inches in the Birmingham area.
The fall tornado season was also active again, with three early morning outbreaks in November and December. The biggest event came on November 24, when 16 tornadoes touched down across central Alabama. Two people were killed, one due to a falling tree caused by a tornado near Bynum, and another due to flash flooding in St. Clair county.

What's ahead for 2005? Only time will tell, but you bet we will be ready for whatever comes our way. As J.B. says.... life goes on, and we love it. May God richly bless you and your family this Christmas.