Who Ya Gonna Believe?

The Wednesday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:

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

There are times when I do believe you can look at too much data when putting a forecast together. It can make your head spin, give you heartburn, and make you want to slap your sister. This might be one of those days for us in the weather office. Model madness continues...

But, our job here is to sort through the madness and tell you what we think will happen. So... here goes:

TOMORROW: Wet weather returns with a round of showers and thnderstorms statewide. The new day 2 convective outlook has a slight risk of severe storms along the Mississippi, Alabama, and Northwest Florida Gulf coast. No severe weather is expected here, but rain amounts from 1/2 to 3/4 inch are likely thanks to a small but rather robust upper short wave.

FRIDAY: Much of the day should be dry. The sun might shine at times, and there is just an outside risk of an afternoon shower.

FRIDAY NIGHT/SATURDAY: The GFS and NAM are about as different as day and night. We lean toward the NAM, which develops a surface low near Mobile (18Z run of the NAM) Friday night, then moving it to near Athens, Georgia by Saturday afternoon as it deepens. The NAM spreads a large mass of precipitation into Alabama with this feature, and we will mention a chance of rain Friday night (mostly light rain; no severe weather).

Much colder air rolls into the state on Saturday, and it looks like temperatures will fall through the day. And, if the NAM is correct, that light rain could change to light snow Saturday before ending. We don't expect any accumulation due to the warm ground. An icy northwest wind will make temperatures feel colder; we will probably fall from the mid 40s into the 30s.

We need to note the GFS shows no surface low around here; it develops a weaker low closer to the Atlantic coast later in the weekend.

One way or another, Saturday will be blustery and cold. Clouds will probably hang tough all day. We will be hoping for better model agreement in the days to come, but it is a very, very interesting forecast.

SUNDAY: We should be well down in the 20s as the day begins with a clear sky; some of the colder valleys might even reach the upper teens. The day will be mostly sunny but chilly with highs in the 45 to 49 degree range.

MONDAY: A fast moving wave could bring a little light rain late Monday and Monday night, but it does not look like a major rain producer. Any snow should be north of I-40 up in Tennessee/Kentucky.

BIG TIME COLD: The pattern is changing in a big way... and the weekend event signals the beginning. Much colder air is about 7 to 8 days away... if the GFS is correct we are talking highs in the 30s and lows in the teens by the end of next week, with several other "Arctic dumps" ahead for mid-month.

And, yes, waves on the Arctic front will bring winter storm THREATS to parts of the Deep South along the way. Cold weather/snow fans should like the wsy the maps are looking. Nobody will like their utility bill come March... it will be very ugly. Be ready now for a very cold February.

STORM ALERT 2006: We are putting the finishing touches on the production elements for the weather tour today... we kick it off tomorrow night in Hamilton at 7:00 at Bevill State. I sure get the idea the place will be packed... you might want to show up by 6:00 to get a seat. We hope to see you there...

The next video will be ready by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 3:10 pm
Well I think James is right about this month so let's hang on tight it's going to be fun. :D:D:D

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Posted by Mikey  
on February 1, 2006, 4:02 pm
The high utility bill will be okay as long as we get enough snow to stay home from work for a couple of days.

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 4:48 pm
I LOVE this forecast! I have been so sad that we have had a warm January. I have two children who haven't seen a decent snow! I want to sled and build a BIG snowman. We made a wimpy one 3 or 4 years ago. He had more mud than snow! Please let it snow!!! 'Does anyone remember the snow/ icestorm of 85?!! I had a blast!!!!!

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 5:23 pm
I remember the April 3, 1987 snow strom that dumped inches of snow here in Talladega.

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 6:58 pm
I remember that one in 87, too. I remember that it was a huge SURPRISE! It just lasted one day, but we made the best of it.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on February 1, 2006, 4:57 pm
I remember that snow storm..... I was in middle school, and hated it. I kept telling my dad that it was going to snow, and he as usual, did not believe me. We had the BEST time.........

I sure hope it snows this year!

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Posted by John T.  
on February 1, 2006, 5:47 pm
I love the title James. I have to say, if its going to happen then let it happen big time. It will just make me & Dave appreciate spring more .

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 6:44 pm
I recall the 85 storm I was in middle school to the best part of it was the snow the next day.

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 6:57 pm
Looks like everyone is finally getting on board. The weather channel even has scattered snow showers for Prattville on Feb. 9th.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on February 1, 2006, 7:09 pm
ooooohhhh goody!!! but just remember......
it is still 8 days away. a lot can happen between now and then. but that don't mean we can wish and dream does it???

btw.... silver spoon is under the pillow, my pjs are already on and inside out (i didnt do this part on purpose tho)

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 7:27 pm
I am just happy the cold will be back maybe my daughter will see her first snow.

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Posted by Stephanie Honeycutt  
on February 1, 2006, 7:35 pm
I hope all of our children get to see snow !!

Re-gaining the faith ......... Doin' tha snow dance --WOO HOO!!

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 8:07 pm
Don't get your hopes up too much, we're still in Alabama, after all. ;D I can't even the last time I saw a snow flurry!

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 8:46 pm
Come on everybody Stephanie needs help on the snow dance so if anyone knows how do dance than help her.

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 9:05 pm
I want snow as much as the next person but of all weeks, not next week. I'm moving on the 11th and need good weather in the week leading up to it to get everything accomplished. James, can we please put it off a week? If only it was that simple. :-)

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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 9:25 pm
Here is the ABSTRACT of Dr. Gray's and Dr. Klozbatch predictions for Hurricane Season 2006. Very Interesting:

Information obtained through November 2005 indicates that the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season will be much more active than the average 1950-2000 season. We estimate that 2006 will have about 9 hurricanes (average is 5.9), 17 named storms (average is 9.6), 85 named storm days (average is 49.1), 45 hurricane days (average is 24.5), 5 intense (Category 3-4-5) hurricanes (average is 2.3) and 13 intense hurricane days (average is 5.0). The probability of U.S. major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 55 percent above the long-period average. We expect Atlantic basin Net Tropical Cyclone (NTC) activity in 2006 to be about 195 percent of the long-term average. This forecast is based on our recently developed 6-11 month extended range statistical forecast procedure which utilizes 52 years of past data. These include five selective measures of September-November North Atlantic and Pacific surface pressure and 500 mb height fields and a measure of the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). All predictors are calling for an active season. Analog predictors have also been utilized. The influences of El Niņo conditions are implicit in these predictor fields, and therefore we do not utilize a specific ENSO forecast as a predictor. We do not expect El Niņo conditions during the 2006 season. It is more likely that neutral or even La Niņa conditions will develop.



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Posted by  
on February 1, 2006, 9:36 pm
Hey AndyN you know what I say to that? let's wait and see what will happen.

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Posted by John T.  
on February 1, 2006, 10:05 pm
I love this blog, I could not help but to laugh reading all the snow wish statements & 'bam' a hurricane statement . I had to stay where did this come out of the blue from? But it was interesting. NO offence AndyN, just got a chuckle out of it. GO SNOW!

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Posted by Josh  
on February 2, 2006, 12:18 am
Here is the low over GA that made the snow on April 3, 1987:

http://vortex.plymouth.edu/gifs/060202061324.gif

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