Interesting Setup At The End Of The Week

The Tuesday morning map discussion video is on the server:

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

On this last day of January 2006 we will enjoy a bright mid-winter day with ample sunshine and highs in the mid to upper 50s. Tomorrow stays dry, and a warming trend begins. We should be in the 60s tomorrow afternoon. But, be warned much colder air is poised to move in here over the coming weekend.

THURSDAY: A vort max coming out of Texas should bring a round of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday. They might begin after midnight Wednesday night... for the moment it looks like the main window for rain will come from about 4:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. Thursday. Severe weather is not likely, and rainfall amounts around 1/2 inch seem like a good bet.

FRIDAY: The model run consistency is horrible on the development of this next feature. I think the stronger solution is correct you see on the 00Z GFS. A deep surface low moves from the piney woods of East Texas, to a point near Muscle Shoals, and on to Louisville. This would bring a risk of strong to severe thunderstorms across parts of the Deep South, including Alabama, and SPC maintains a severe weather risk on their graphics as well.

The best time for thunderstorms seems to be from about 4:00 p.m. Friday through midnight Friday night. If we can get those high CAPE values in here, wind profiles would suggest a tornado threat will be possible.

A WEEKEND CHILL: Following the round of Friday night storms, much colder air rolls in here over the weekend. In our forecast package, I have a high of 43 on Saturday. It might be a setup where we begin in the upper 40s at daybreak Saturday, and drop to near 40 during the day. It all depends on the cold frontal passage timing; in the forecast I am assuming a frontal passage in the midnight to 3:00 a.m. time frame.

If we do have the deep surface low involved, clouds will be in place all day, and a few snow flurries will be possible over the northern third of Alabama.

By Sunday morning, with a clear sky, we should go well down in the 20s. I have 25 in our forecast package; colder spots should be closer to 20 degrees.

EARLY NEXT WEEK: An impulse will bring the risk of some light rain, mainly to the northern half of the state, on Monday. Doesn't look like a major system at all, and for the moment it looks warm enough for all liquid.

LONG RANGE: The maps still look very, very cold for the eastern one-half of the nation through much of February, generally speaking. Looks like the Arctic boundary might hover across the southern U.S., and if that thing gets wavy then look out for a winter storm threat or two. Stay tuned...

TODAY: I will be speaking to the kids at Meadow View Elementary school in Alabaster... and will be back in the office for the afternoon map discussion video which will be on the server by 3:30 p.m. It will be quite interesting to see how the 12Z model runs handle the Friday/Saturday system.

STORM ALERT 2006: We kick off the show Thursday night in Hamilton at Bevill State... we begin at 7:00 but you might want to show up at 6:00 to get a seat. The place will be packed. Hope to see you there!
Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 6:26 am
Whoa Nelly! If you don't like the weather in Alabama... It would appear that we may be in for a wild ride over the weekend. Every one keep their eyes and ears open! Go make it a great day!!!!

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Posted by John T.  
on January 31, 2006, 6:29 am
A nice-cool 36 in my part of Hueytown. Will enjoy the warm temps. while I can. Its still winter, so if we have to have cold weather hopefully it will come on & spread its joy & love around. I'm sure some people will have fun with it on the blog since for some reason it always brings out the best in some folks. Ha, ha. Its such a lovely & interesting topic for some reason....

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 7:11 am
John - spring will be here soon - I promise :)
Hang in there till the end of March -
All the yo-yoing for snow has me wanting spring to be here too.
I am ready for a new flower garden!!

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 7:16 am
Hey just wanted to say I am at 29.0 with a good little frost. This ties the number of lowes temps with last year witch is 8.

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 8:15 am
Looks like Feb might be cooler than Jan but that doesn't necessarily mean cold enough for snow. From what James is saying it looks like the really cold stuff will stay just north of Alabama ( as usual). What will probably happen is we will have several cold "rain" events that drive up the heating bills. I talked with my cousin in Michigan yesterday and he said its been very warm there ( for Michigan) it's been in the 50's alot and they have no snow.

If it's not cold enough for snow I'd rather keep the 60's and 70's for the rest of the winter, but I'm not in charge of that, God is!!

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 8:17 am
I'm sorry I should have written the 40's not the 50's for the temps in Michigan

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 8:48 am
I agree Jeff. No point in freezing us all if we can't have the snow to play in......... :)

As far as heating bills, they are sure to go up even more if Feb promises to be a cold month.
Does anyone have any heat saving ideas to share???

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 9:03 am
Well as far as heating ideas hmmm let's see you can get some weather stripping for the doors and windows. That should keep the cold air out. And the one thing I have learned to do is set the t stat at a temperature that you like and leave it there. If you run your T stat up and down all the time than you might get a higher bill so set it and leave it there. I know this works because I have tried it and my boss man does the same thing and his bill is not that high.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 9:34 am
We keep our T-stat at 64. Adjusting it is a big no no.
In addition to weather stripping, we use towels in the window sills, draft dodgers in our lower level doors. Commercial grade shower curtains under the decorative ones (cheap at Big Lots!!)
Running the gas fireplace is a HUGE no no. Last time we ran it a couple of years ago, for a couple of hours in the course of a couple of days, our bill jumped like $70.
In our average sized tri level home, our gas bill is lower than anyone else on our street (yes we compare)
Still would love to hear from anyone else on heat saving tips. I am all for saving money!!

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 9:38 am
My Mother keeps the garage door closed. It helps keep the cold air out of the kitchen.

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 10:53 am
Stephanie if you keep your T state at 64 and not touch it and do the other things you do then you have done all that you can do. Unless you turn the heat off all together.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 11:13 am
Not true Michael.

(hitting fist on forehead!!) I hadn't thought of shutting the door to what was once my garage. Since there is only one really small heat vent in a room large enough to house two cars and some storage, this is the coldest room in the house.......

THANKS KIM!!!! :)

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 11:49 am
Looks like our old friend the NAO is waffling a bit. It seems to be going negative again for mid Feb after a brief retreat back to neutral. Looks like a roller coaster ride next month

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 12:29 pm
Hmmmm Stephanie you might want to close that door you might be warmer in that room. But I do know a little about heating and A/C more than you think. I know by leaving the T stat on your temperature and not touching it will work because I have done this and my boss man does the same thing. So please don't tell me that it does not work because I know it does. I know how the heat and A/C work better than most people. Now don't take this as me being mean because I am not.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 1:49 pm
I did not say it does not work, Michael, please go back and re-read my post. I DID say (and I quote) "We KEEP our T-stat on 64 at all times. Adjusting it is a big no no."

Where I disagree with you is that there is ALWAYS another way to try to save $$ on your heating bill. I was merely more interested in hearing what and how other people do to try to save money on their bill during this high gas price time.

Like I said before, you need to read the detail of my comments before you go spouting off assuming I am contradicting you when I am not.



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Posted by Mikey  
on January 31, 2006, 1:05 pm
An "interesting setup" for me is a good snow, not the "iffy" chance of severe weather as has petered out more than once lately.

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 1:21 pm
Oh Stephanie I have a good tip for you I don't know if you have done this yet but since you don't use the fireplace than why don't you close the flue. That will keep the cold air out. :):)

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 1:53 pm
Thank you Michael. I went and I checked, and sure enough it was open. Like I said before --- *****See Above***** there is ALWAYS a way :)

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 2:02 pm
Ok Stephanie I am sorry you are right I don't know what I was thinking. I went back and looked at the post you put on and there are more ways to save $$. I have not felt to good the last 2 days so I'm sorry.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 2:18 pm
It's ok Michael. Call in sick one day and get to feeling better! :)

To think that flue was open for two winters or more........ sheesh (shaking head) it is shut now thanks to Michael!!

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