Brighter Days Ahead

The Monday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:

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

Wow... a ton of people got the morning music trivia correct... the lyrics ""February made me shiver, with every newspaper I'd deliver..." were from the song American Pie from Don McClean. Thanks for all the e-mails. Funny how a song from 1972 would be remembered so clearly in 2006.

BIG TIME RAIN: A quick peek at the instrument panel here at ABC 33/40 shows 1.63" since midnight. J.B. will have more rain totals later... but sure seems like most folks got quite a soaking during the last 24 hours.

Quite a thermal contrast on either side of the front; at this moment Evergreen, down in South Alabama, is reporting 77, while Huntsville, Muscle Shoals, and Decatur are at 50 degrees. We have 61 here in Riverchase.

Expect a good dose of daily sunshine through mid-week. A clipper system will carve out a cold trough over the northeast U.S., which should mean cooler temperatures down this way. Highs will drop into the 50s on Wednesday and Thursday, and the new guidance is much colder for early Wednesday morning, with the NAM showing 28 and the GFS 30 for Birmingham.

NEXT RAIN: The 12Z run of the GFS is a little faster with the rain over the weekend, basically suggesting rain is most likely from about 6:00 p.m. Saturday through 9:00 a.m. Sunday. For the moment we will continue to highlight rain and poissibly a thunderstorm Saturday night and Sunday, and we can make adjustments as needed in coming days.

LONG RANGE: The 12z run at 384 hours is an example of what CAN happen in a pattern with a negative AO and NAO this time of the year. The model floods much of the nation with very cold air, and an active southern stream will bring rumors of snow storms to parts of the southern U.S. Of course, model output at 384 hours is all voo-doo, but I think the trend is clear. February should be much colder for much of the nation with more frequent and interesting winter storms. Hang on for the ride.

TODAY: Had a great time up on Lookout Mountain seeing the 2nd graders at Sand Rock School in Cherokee County. Thanks to Vic Bell, our weather watcher from Black Creek, for stopping by to see us during the program. Be sure and look for the kids on the KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40. You will really get a kick out of what one of the second grade teachers did for us...

I will have the next map discussion video ready by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
Posted by anonymous  
on January 23, 2006, 3:18 pm
Don McLean had the original hit. Madonna had a big hit just a few years ago with the same song. I wonder how many of us remember the original?


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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 23, 2006, 5:47 pm
I remember the original . Never heard Madonna's version. Great song!


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Posted by Josh  
on January 23, 2006, 4:09 pm
Yes I Know the song easy. Maybe almost all the words.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 23, 2006, 4:11 pm
One day I hope to get up to Lookout Mountain.....

And.. I hope to see the winter (snow only) storms in February!

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Posted by  
on January 23, 2006, 4:13 pm
Well, one things for sure... I don't know the Madonna version.

oh, and I think from now until my birthday March 20th (the first day of spring), Im gonna post....

AAARRRGGHHHHHH... I AM SO READY FOR SPRING. (and not because its my birthday)

I havent had any trouble with the verification code.

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Posted by John T.  
on January 23, 2006, 6:38 pm
Bring on the snow! Lets get it over with so me & Dave can get into our spring weather. I'm just tired of this 'just rain' stuff. Yea, I know I'm probably putting my foot in my mouth wanting more exciting weather, but I'm allowed. After all I am THE dramatic lapdog like person.

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Posted by Pat  
on January 24, 2006, 6:42 am
A few years ago in an ice storm, our neighbor across the street skated on the street.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 23, 2006, 7:09 pm
I wonder if you can ice skate on an ice covered street...... has anyone tried this??

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Posted by Jeff  
on January 23, 2006, 9:07 pm
Yes you can if the ice is an inch think. No ice though I want it to snow. Angels in the snow are more fun

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Posted by Jeff  
on January 23, 2006, 9:09 pm
My typing is sooo bad that is "thick" not think

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 23, 2006, 9:17 pm
hmmmmm............ <scratching head and thinking real hard...........> :)

just kidding..

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Posted by John T.  
on January 23, 2006, 10:34 pm
If correct spelling & punctuation were 2 requirements for being correct, non of us would be able to get on the blog. I took "hooked on fonix" in school, it just did not hook on me?. So don't feel too bad Jeff.

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