Heaviest Rain Shifts to South Alabama

December 4, 2005, 9:30 pm

Posted by J.B. Elliott in Weather Discussions
Rating: 0/5 Votes : 0

Colder air was pushing deeper into Alabama tonight. A line of showers and some thunderstorms were along and near the cold front.

At 9:30 pm, the front extended from SW Alabama northeastward to near Montgomery and across North Tallapoosa County.

Widespread rain was still falling across North Central Alabama but not as heavyand not as widespread as earlier tonight.

Lightning detection quipment shows a decline in lightning also.

Some of today's rainfall amounts (updated for later reports):

0.62 of an inch at Anniston Airport
0.39 at Birmingham Airport
0.70 at Shelby County Airport
0.55 at Taylorville (south of Tuscaloosa)
1.14 at Decatur
1.26 in Huntsville
0.56 in Pinson
0.60 in Cullman
0.99 in Steele (north St. Clair County)
0.47 in Hueytown
0.61 in Greystone Cove (James Spann)
0.54 in Helena (Nathan Jones)

At Muscle Shoals, in NW Alabama, the temperature had fallen to 38 at 9 pm with light snow. Visibility was seven miles.

Mail this Printer friendly

Posted by www
on December 4, 2005, 9:01 pm

Rain has ended for the time being in Helena. Doubled the total since last post. Now at .24 inches. Saw something kinda strange about 30 minutes ago during the rain. Had a fairly stiff wind from the south and the low clouds were moving almost due south. Kinda strange.

Reply to this comment

Posted by www
on December 4, 2005, 9:10 pm

I'm lagging behind you a little, Nathan. Only 0.18" here so far as measured a few hundred yards from you.

Reply to this comment

Posted by www
on December 4, 2005, 9:13 pm

Peter, Isn't it strange how things like that happen. Only a couple blocks difference.

BTW, Its trying to rain again. Very light

Reply to this comment

Posted by
on December 4, 2005, 9:38 pm

are ya'll sure the rain is suposta increase tonight? the radar looks like its clearing out to the west

Reply to this comment

Posted by www
on December 4, 2005, 9:52 pm

Nathan,

A while back there was kind of a running joke about how all the rain was missing your area ... Helena Desert...
Just wondering if you've managed to catch up since then.

Reply to this comment

Posted by www
on December 4, 2005, 10:03 pm

I'm at 42.38 for the year. Not sure exactly where that stands from normal. Back in the summer almost every rain shower went right around here. Lately I've had better luck.

Reply to this comment

Posted by
on December 4, 2005, 10:21 pm

Hey Nathan I am in Alabaster not to far from Helena I might be a couple of minutes my rainfall for the year so far is 53.82. So I have a little more than you.

Reply to this comment

Posted by
on December 4, 2005, 10:24 pm

Well here we go again.. The GFS is playing the flip flop game�. But that is what it does.. It will show something different on every run�but here are some of the interesting four panel charts on the latest run�

We will start out with tonight .. The temperatures keep falling and the rain is too� Look at some of the temperatures from around the south�.
CULLMAN RAIN temp 37
HUN NWS/UAH RAIN Temp 38
MUSCLE SHOALS FLURRIES Temp 38

Nothing to get all excited about, but there is a chance some will see some wet�wet flakes tonight�.

Now for tomorrow:

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/namer/gfs/18/fp0
_018.shtml

With the low centered around the Lagrange area, and moving NE, I still believe that there still could be a chance of some of that moisture wrapping around that low and spitting out some flurries in the NE corner of the state, like Cloudmont and Mentone. But nothing to get excited about. Now if you are looking for some snow action, I would head for the Great Smokey�s, I bet Gatlinburg, will get a good dose of heavy wet snow with that low moving up the east coast.

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/namer/gfs/18/fp0
_072.shtml

here we are on Wednesday, and it is interesting to note that some of that gulf moisture is moving up into Texas riding up and over the cold air at the surface, then on Thursday, some of that moisture starts moving our way,

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/namer/gfs/18/fp0
_078.shtml

But the GFS is raising the thickness values which would indicate that it would fall as rain on Friday�.

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/namer/gfs/18/fp0
_102.shtml

Here are some interesting things we will have to look at ..They are out there in what James calls VOODOO land, but they are fun to look at�.

Maybe another round of severe weather as we wrap up next weekend �

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/namer/gfs/18/fp0
_180.shtml

Then here we go � Into the deep freeze� with limited moisture� Thursday the 15th
: that is the 528 line all the way down here to Bham�.

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/namer/gfs/18/fp0
_252.shtml

And then �..WOW .. 5 days from Christmas� what can you say� The chart says it all�

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/namer/gfs/18/fp0
_384.shtml

The one thing is for sure, we will have weather �what kind, I don�t know.. but we will have weather� and it is fun to watch.. I will catch yall in the morning.. I will be home.. My oldest was in the Springville Parade last night, With his 75lb football team, and now he is Running a Fever and is coughing his little head off. We will be of to see his favorite Dr. in the morning.

God bless you �. Rusty IWIWAM anonymous��..

Reply to this comment

Posted by
on December 4, 2005, 10:31 pm

Hey Rusty man you are right WOW talk about some weather 5 days before Christmas, Did you get my e-mail I sent you? You have got a fine looking family I hope he is ok and does not get sick. Let us know what the doc says and keep up with the GFS and let us know what will happen.

Reply to this comment

Posted by
on December 4, 2005, 10:52 pm

here in Decatur we had hail last night (didn't get up to see what size) and pea size about 9:30 am - was there any large size reported last night?

Reply to this comment