Interesting Setup For Sunday And Early Next Week

January 26, 2006, 3:33 pm
Posted by James Spann in Weather Discussions
Rating: 0/5   Votes : 0
The Thursday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:

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

The GFS is coming around to a very interesting solution for our weather in the Sunday-Tuesday time frame. But first...

Another freeze is likely tonight. Dewpoints are still in the teens; I think most folks will see 20s by daybreak tomorrow. We are watching a large cloud mass to the west; if those clouds move in here later tonight they could hold temperatures up, especially over West Alabama.

Those clouds will make for a partly sunny day tomorrow... the wave responsible for the echoes over Texas and Louisiana will fizzle and we still expect a dry day tomorrow, and a dry day on Saturday.

COMPLEX SYSTEM: The 12Z GFS is basically advertising a two part storm system now. The first part comes here with a batch of rain and storms late Satudday night through Sunday morning. Upper support now looks limited, and severe weather is not likely. Rainfall amounts of 1/2 to one inch are a good bet with the first period of rain.

PART TWO: Another round of rain and storms is likely late Sunday night into Monday with a stronger upper air wave and a surface cold front. The dynamics will be strong, but once again the thermodynamics are somewhat marginal for severe weather. This should bring another 1/2 inch of rain for most communities.

A COLD CHANGE: There is some Arctic air behind Monday's front. Much colder air will roll in here Monday night into Tuesday. Parts of North Alabama might hold in the 30s all day Tuesday; for now we will forecast highs in the mid 40s here. Wrap around moisture could bring a few snow flurries to North Alabama late Monday night into Tuesday morning; the best chance would be over the northeast part of the state.

AN EVEN COLDER CHANGE: Once again, the GFS sure looks cold as we get into February. For the snow fans, check out the video and see the model output at 240 hours; that shows a nice snow storm for Alabama. But that is all voo-doo at this point; it is just a possibility in this kind of pattern.

A monster western Canada ridge builds in the February 8-11 time frame and will pull some really cold down down into the "lower 48". That is why we are paying so much attention to the temperatures now in Alaska and the western part of Canada.

Thanks to the kids at Bragg Middle School in Gardendale today... they were a great audience. They will be on the KIDCAM on ABC 33/40 News at 5:00. I will be live down at the BJCC at the circus... I will fit in nicely with the clowns.

The next map discussion video will be up by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
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Posted by Bama Man  
on January 26, 2006, 4:01 pm
Hey Snow fans check out the video update!) We just might see some snow if we don't than we should be cold.

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Posted by Jeff  
on January 26, 2006, 4:04 pm
I really have this feeling that Feb will finally be our time to enjoy an old fashioned southern snowstorm. No milk and bread for me though I want cokes, cake and candy. Oh yes a little "snow" ice cream would be nice. Haven't had that since I was a kid.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 26, 2006, 4:24 pm
Speaking of snow cream.... anyone remember how to make it??
Jeff, you sound like my husband - he loves all the "forbidden but heavenly" junk food during hurricanes - never have been significantly snowed in with him though- but I bet it would be fun!! ;)

BTW... is there anything that can be done to make the verification code bigger?? I think I am going blind.....

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Posted by Jenny  
on January 26, 2006, 5:48 pm
My memories of making snow ice cream were: milk, sugar and vanilla. Oh yeah - and SNOW!!

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Posted by John T.  
on January 26, 2006, 5:53 pm
Hey all. I'm sure most of you have read Mr.x's comments from yestarday but he also had a worst, a lot worst comment in the 'Welcome to Coosa Co.' part that James thankfully took off before everyone had a chance to see some of the profanity this person used. Basicly it was downing & gripeing about this county now being under the B'ham DMA now. He doesn't want his precious tv time taken up with tornado coverage. Folks, I can't imagine any warm hearted human being actually being this serious ugley about the coverage of one of natures most voilent storms on earth. I have to say to this person & anyone else that feels this way (negatively) about the coverage that James gives "SHUT UP" and change your channel. Aparently you have never lost a friend, loved one, property, etc. to one of these storms, I have in the Oak Grove F5. NO James is not a god, nor do we look to him as one, JUST a messenger of GOD. Yes, I'm sure you or someone will come back and slam me about this, I don't care if you do, these are life and death situations and thats why James, and the other guys do what they do. And I wish James could get all 67 counties into the B'ham DMA. That means he is just doing his job and YES they do deserve a raise. I had to put this up God put it on my heart to say. THANKS!

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Posted by  
on January 26, 2006, 6:13 pm
I'm sure it could really work out for EVERYONE, if 33/40 turned into a SUPERSTATION and 21 got the ABC affiliation.

Then James wouldn't have to worry about DMAs. and viewer complaints He could even do severe weather for the entire nation at that point!



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Posted by  
on January 26, 2006, 7:34 pm
I agree with the Oak Grove comment from John T. - James Spann saved a lot of lives that night - even through property and "lives" were forever changed. And I really like the verification mode method!!

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Posted by   www
on January 26, 2006, 8:00 pm
I remember watching severe coverage the night of the Oak Grove storm....the 33/40 team saying how impressive the echo of that storm was...and that a significant tornado may well be in progress. Lives were saved on that night due to long form coverage and plain speak.
Regular programming or continual, honest coverage of tornado events in any area of the market?
That's a real no-brainer...
regular programming can wait.

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Posted by John T.  
on January 26, 2006, 7:55 pm
Mr. Sventon I don't wont to get into an argument with you or anyone about 3340s coverage of severe wx but I think its a shame that you & like you act and respond the way you do. Its like a tornado or hurricane is a joke or something to you. I assume the you or whoever has never been in one of these storms, and to a degreee I hope you never have to experience one. You all may not realize it yet but you are very lucky to be in the B'ham. area sir. I can't say for certain that James is worried about whomever outside it, but he knows if you are inside of it & you would like great coverage then he & his boss has it undercontrol IF you care & value your & yours lives. THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS STORMS. THEY DEMAND RESPECT. If you don't then God help you. This was meant in all due respect.

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Posted by  
on January 26, 2006, 8:56 pm
WOW......this will prolly never happen...but fun to look at anyway...

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/

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Posted by  
on January 26, 2006, 9:37 pm
Au contraire, John. I am in agreement with the 33/40 policy on severe weather, to a degree. There are times when I wish 33/40 would cut in for severe weather.

I also watch some prime time programming on 33/40. That's why I understand the gripes that some people have. It's their policy as it is now to do longform coverage.

What I implied in my comment was that you will never please everyone. I was pointing out one scenario that would. Of course, it is unlikely to happen, but who knows.

People are going to gripe if you interrupt "Desperate Housewives", for a warning that will skirt just one county in the DMA. Frankly, I would gripe too, if Spann didn't interrupt if I lived in that county.

When 33/40 was starting out, I felt like Mr. X. I don't feel that way now, but I still wonder why 33/40 doesn't have "backup plans", in case a show like "Desperate Housewives" might get pre-empted. For example, set aside programming on Saturday to reair it. If ABC says no, tell people who to write at ABC, and I'll be one of the first to chime in!

I've never lived through a tornado. However, hurricanes are no joke either. During Hurricane Katrina, 33/40 had a special that aired on Tuscaloosa's Comcast cable. I wish it had aired up here, because for me, Katrina caused more havoc than Dennis did.

When I awakened on April 8, I had a feeling it would be the "red letter day". My heart went out to everyone out there. It could have been even worse.

Keep up the good work, James!

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Posted by John T.  
on January 26, 2006, 10:05 pm
My apologies to you Argus. Thanks for your last comment. You made the point that I wish most people that fuss about wall-to-wall coverage would understand. Thanks for the way you stated your comment. Another scholar & gentlemen. God Bless.

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