A Cold Change By The Weekend

The Tuesday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:

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

Wow... 589 people have died due to exposure from the cold in the Ukraine in the past two weeks. Amazing to see the record cold over much of the Northern Hemisphere. I know everyone here is talking about the mild January across the "lower 48", but our little corner of the world seems to be an exception. We are really blessed.

Dry weather continues through tomorrow. Another light freeze is likely tonight, but we warm into the low 60s tomorrow afternoon.

THURSDAY: A rather strong vort max rolls into the state on Thursday, and a few showers and thunderstorms are likely. No severe weather; rain amounts of 1/2 inch look likely at this point. The 12Z GFS is a little slower, so a shower or storm is possible at almost any time on Thursday statewide.

FRIDAY: The 12Z run of the GFS follows the lead of the 06Z run, and does not develop a rapidly deepening surface cyclone like we saw on the 00Z last night. I am pretty suspicious of this, but if the new run is correct we won't have any severe weather problems Friday night. Lets hope that is correct, but with such a strong jet max punching overhead I don't believe it just yet.

We will maintain the risk of showers and storms late Friday and Friday night. We need to note it still looks like much of the day Friday should be dry before those storms arrive.

A strong Polar front will roll through late Friday night, sometime in the midnight to 3:00 a.m. time frame....

A WEEKEND CHILL: The one thing all models are screaming is a big change to cold weather for the weekend. Our high of 43 still looks good for Saturday with an icy northwest wind. If we do not have a deep surface low to the north of us, we might have a chance of getting some sunshine on Saturday. But, a rather strong vort max will rotate through the base of the trough, and I still think we will have clouds much of the day. Might not be enough moisture for flurries, but I am not ready to take that out just yet.

The forecast low of 25 Sunday morning also looks good as a middle point... colder valleys might reach the upper teens if the wind can go calm. Sunday will be a dry but chilly day.

EARLY NEXT WEEK: An interesting impulse rolls through on Monday. Looks like this might bring snow to Tennessee north of I-40, with some light rain down this way.

LONG TERM: COLD is the word for the eastern half of the U.S. through much mid-February. No change in our thinking... and a wavy Arctic front just south of here could bring one or two winter storm threats. You can see that is almost every run of the GFS... we just can be specific so far out. There is no skill in a specific forecast beyond seven days.

STORM ALERT 2006: We are looking forward to being in Hamilton Thursday night to kick off our ninth annual severe weather awareness tour across the state. We will be dealing with subjects like the 1932 Alabama tornado outbreak (our deadliest on record), "global warming", and thoughts on the coming hurricane season from Dr. Keith Blackwell, one of the smartest tropical guys in the world (he is down at the University of South Alabama in Mobile). And, we will show some cool new weather technology we are installing now. And yep, t-shirts for the first 500 people and a chance to win more prizes. Hope to see you along the way... get details here:

http://beta.abc3340.com/external.hrb?p=stormalert&w=1

I knocked out the afternoon update a little early today since my program at Meadow View Elementary in Alabaster is at 1:30. be sure and look for those kids on the KIDCAM at 5:00 today on ABC 33/40 News.

I love J.B.'s "by the numbers" post every morning... I have always been a big "numbers" guy. Great stuff!
Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 1:41 pm
Hey James I think you are right we better hang on tight Febuary looks like a fun month. :D:D:D

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 2:24 pm
I like Jb's "By The Numbers" postings too, they are a fun, fun read!! Keep 'em coming JB!!

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 2:40 pm
Stephanie did you know that an open fireplace flue is the best thing to waste heat?)?) Just think about the heat you lost all this time. Oh and we heard from Freddy and if everything goes like it is now than he should be back in 2 weeks. Please pray that he does.

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Posted by Bama Man  
on January 31, 2006, 3:39 pm
Hey everybody hope you yall have had a great day. Now I know this is not weather related but I know there are of lot of christans that read this blog. Has anyone seen the e-mail going around about pepsi cola coming out with a new can? Well this can has got the empire state building on it. It all so has the pledge on it as well. Seems like Pepsi left out something very good they left out the words ( UNDER GOD). They did this because they did not want to offend anyone well this offends me! I think we as christans need to stand up to pepsi and say no to the new can. If enough of us will say no to the new can than I don't think pepsi will make this can. Now I know I am going to get a lot of bad feed back off of this but that is ok. I will pray for you anyway so let's tell pepsi cola no to the new can.

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Posted by Jeff  
on January 31, 2006, 4:33 pm
I drink diet sunkist which is a Pepsi product I think,but let me know who to call. I will boycott Pepsi products. I know this isn't a pulpit, but it's time for Christians to take a stand. I love Jesus, but He doesn't tell us to be door mats. He wasn't, just read the Gospels!!

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on January 31, 2006, 3:44 pm
I don't drink Pepsi anyways............. No prob for me to boycott

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Posted by Josh  
on January 31, 2006, 4:51 pm
From:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blpepsi-can.htm

Comments: This false and utterly pointless call to arms is a variant of an email protest targeting the manufacturer of another soft drink, Dr Pepper, in February 2002. Dr Pepper cans did, in fact, carry such a patriotic slogan during a brief promotion in 2001-2002 and featured an excerpt from the Pledge of Allegiance. However, Pepsi — which is manufactured by an entirely different and unrelated company, I hasten to add — has never run such a promotion, nor announced any plans to do so.

Official statement from PepsiCo:

We wanted to clarify an erroneous report that has been circulating around cyberspace for some time. Pepsi has not created any packaging containing an edited version of America's Pledge of Allegiance. A patriotic package used in 2001 by Dr Pepper (which is not a part of PepsiCo) was inappropriately linked to this rumor. Dr Pepper's position is very clearly articulated at: http://www.dpsu.com

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Posted by  
on January 31, 2006, 6:02 pm
It is always good to check to see if these so called "urban legends" are hoaxes or not. I got one the other day about a virus that included something about CNN. I promptly went to google, typed in virus and CNN, sure enough it was a hoax. I did the same thing about telemarketing companies getting cell phone numbers- this isn't true either. Then you don't have to worry about sending nerve wrenching messages to others =-)

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Posted by Bama Man  
on January 31, 2006, 6:08 pm
Hey Josh thanks for clearing that up I just to the site you have and sure enough it was Dr. Pepper. Well I am sorry if I offended anybody. I guess what these people need to do is get a life instead of trying to start something.

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Posted by John T.  
on January 31, 2006, 6:20 pm
Hey Bama Man it was a 'good intent' call. Now you know where to go to clarify next time. If you offend anyone taking up for GOD or for his son our Lord then it will be delt with during Judgement. I give you 2 thumbs for what you did. GOD made another beautiful winters day after all.

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Posted by Bama Man  
on January 31, 2006, 9:38 pm
Thanks John T it is nice to know that there are christans on this blog that are not scared to take up for God I WILL TAKE UP FOR GOD ANY TIME ANY PLACE.

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 9:45 am
I knew what he was going to talk about within the first two sentences. No offense BamaMan, but I get so tired of people trying to fill up email boxes with hoaxes and "chain emails". My least favorite line is "if you love Jesus send this to 10 people"... well, if I love Jesus, thats between me and Jesus and I don't believe that love is dependent upon emails.

99% of the time, if the subject line in my emails consist of "fwd", I delete it without reading it.

Oh, by the way, Tommy Hilfiger, Disney World NOR Bill Gates has an email tracking program NOR will they send you money or tickets to anywhere.

(Off my soapbox)

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on February 1, 2006, 10:21 am

Goldwing,
Don't forget the Applebee's one.... they send you an email telling you if you send to so many people they will send you a gift card. I can't stand stuff like that , and tend to delete the garbage my family and friends send me.

But I should have known about the Pepsi scam.......



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Posted by Bama Man  
on February 1, 2006, 11:34 am
Hey Stephanie and Goldwing yes I know there is a lot e-mail junk out there. If you would go back and look at the link that Josh put on here you will see why I got mixed up. It was Dr. pepper a lot of people think Dr. Pepper is a Pepsi product. Dr. Pepper is ther own thing Pepsi does not own Dr. Pepper. But when I looked at the link Josh sent I said I was sorry if I offended anyone. Now as for Jesus I think we as christans need to stand up for him and I will take up for God any time any place. Now if this offends anyone than I am sorry I will pray for you. Now I'm off my soap box.

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 2:13 pm
I don't think anyone is offended by you talking about God. What we are trying to say is don't put Pepsi in a bad light by forwarding slanderous e-mail that isn't true without checking up on it. You were talking about boycotting Pepsi. What about the people who would have been laid off if a boycott had happened about something that wasn't even true. It is offensive for me to read e-mail that says if this offends you, I'll pray for you. You're missing the whole point. If we wanted to read junk mail, we would go to a different site. Let's talk about weather and what God has to do with it- not Pepsi and other junk. If you have to start an e-mail with, this may not be appropriate, don't write it!

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Posted by Bama man  
on February 1, 2006, 2:50 pm
Hey Kelly I don't recall ever saying anything about boycotting Pepsi Cola. That is because I did not say anything about that. All I said before I found out the truth is did anyone see the e-mail about Pepsi Cola and there new can? And even after I found out the truth about it I said I was sorry if I offended anyone. The reason I said anything at all is because I know there are a lot of christains that read this blog have a blessed day. Oh and one more thing if James or anyone else that is in control of this blog thought that was not something to be on here they would have taken it off.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on February 1, 2006, 4:05 pm
whatever "Bama Man"

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 4:41 pm
I second that emotion Steph.

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Posted by Bama Man  
on February 1, 2006, 6:50 pm
Stephanie what did you mean by whatever??? please tell us.

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