A Glimpse Of The Sun

February 21, 2006, 2:58 pm

Posted by James Spann in Weather Discussions
Rating: 0/5 Votes : 0

The Tuesday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:

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

I actually saw the sun for about 2 minutes today coming back from the weather program down at Vincent Elementary School. Looking at visible satellite images, looks like people north of Birmingham have actually seen several hours of sunshine. Very nice. But, don't get used to it.

Radar shows rain increasing in coverage over Arkansas and the eastern part of Oklahoma this afternoon, and that wave will bring rain to Alabama late tonight and tomorrow. The NAM prints 0.39" with this system here tomorrow, while the GFS is much more bullish with 1.05". One way or another we should be wet at times tomorrow.

The forecast remains a challenge beyond tomorrow. Seems like rain remains a good possibility Thursday, especially during the morning hours. Then, the models are backing off on the amount of rain for the I-20 corridor on Friday and Saturday. But, we sure won't drop the mention of rain... confidence is low due to the very fast flow and weak perturbations in that flow.

The GFS and the Euro are also backing down a bit on the degree of cooling here Sunday and Monday. The amplitude is not as great... so we will bump numbers up a bit for those days. I still think we go down in the 20s early Monday if we can get a clear sky and light wind.

SPRING FEVER? Some hint of a nice warm-up next week, with the potential for 70s around here by Tuesday and Wednesday (7 to 8 days from now). That sure sounds nice. But, very cold air contines to hang over us in Canada, and that might set the stage for some type of severe weather event here as we get into March. The 12Z GFS still shows some potential for the first severe weather event of the season in the March 5-7 time frame.

We really haven't had an active spring tornado season since 1998... lets hope this is not the year we break out of that. But we have to be ready if that indeed is the case.

NO TORNADO DRILL TOMORROW: The NWS has decided NOT to hold a statewide tornado drill tomorrow. However, they will be testing NOAA Weather Radio's alarm feature at exactly 9:30 tomorrow morning. That is still a great time to think about what you would do in the event of a real warning.

The ABC 33/40 Weather Team will be at McFarland Mall in Tuscaloosa tomorrow as part of the Tuscaloosa County EMA's annual severe weather awareness event. Drop by and say hello if you are around the southern part of Tuscaloosa.

STORM ALERT 2006: Our severe weather awareness show comes to Gadsden this week; we will be at the Gadsden Convention Hall at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Be sure and come early to get a good seat; we have free t-shirts for the first 500 people who come.

Thanks to the kids down at Vincent Elementary today... they were a great audience and they will be on the KIDCAM on ABC 33/40 News today at 5:00! The next video will be on the server by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow....

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 3:14 pm

Let's kick old man winter out of Alabama for another year and BRING ON SPRING!!!!!

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 3:20 pm

I am with you on that. Tired of this cold. It's time to get a touch of the Spring Fever.

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Posted by www
on February 21, 2006, 3:43 pm

In case ya didn't see the invite earlier, I work at Applebees in the mall in Ttown, and I'll be serving starting at 5. I'm 19 years old, and a broadcast meteorology student - as well as a fan of yours for years now. Would love to meet ya!

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 5:16 pm

Kurt,

Which school are you enrolled at. Huh, we need to talk!!

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 3:44 pm

It was very nice to see the sun out this afternoon. I thought it would be overcast all day, but it started clearing up around 9am.

Any word why the NWS postponed the statewide tornado drill?

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 4:06 pm

Hey Argus it might be because of the rain tomrrow is the reason the called it off. And yes bring on spring weather.

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 4:42 pm

How many of us weather geeks really pay much attention to those drills anyway? After all, if the weather is doing something, we'll either be tuned to James or at our computers watching the weather? Some of us do both!

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Posted by John T.
on February 21, 2006, 4:43 pm

The sunshine was a wondergul surprise along with the boost in warmth .

Where is J.B. , is he ok ?
Missing his posts .

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 5:43 pm

I'm for one is ready for spring. I am so sick and tired of seeing the hourly posts about the temperature, road conditions and so forth. Also tired of seeing the snow dance talked about, let's do the spring dance. I'm all for that. Oh, by the way, it is clear and sunny at my house. Unkown Temp but do have the A/C on.

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Posted by Margie Richardson - Rainbow City
on February 21, 2006, 5:44 pm

I cleaned out 1 of my flower beds today....the sun was great!! Bogie & Spiffie (Shih Tzus) helped out a lot

!! I also drained water out of the pool....I am looking forward in to floating around in it

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Posted by www
on February 21, 2006, 6:57 pm

Count me in the picket for spring. My flowers are blooming (a little early) and they are pretty. I am ready for the kids to play outside, and to hear the birds sing, and to get my flower garden ready. Oh and I cannot forget the pool - will be draing water off the cover tommorrow

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Posted by John T.
on February 21, 2006, 8:07 pm

Good evening everyone ;
With this being severe weather preparedness week I wanted to take the time to ask everyone to better protect themselves and their family with getting a NOAA weather radio , paticularly the SAME type , NOW , and being ready for the tornado season . Yes , I do like the rush of this type of weather & season it is my 'drug' if you will . I am addicted to it . But at the same time I do try to preach and talk about safety for yourself and in my opinion it starts with you being able to receive the watches and most importantly the warnings .
I know the NWS takes a lot of punches and critism for 'crying wolf' or what have you , but these guys and girls do a really great job and they are here just like our 3340 wx team to look-out for you . When they issue advisories , watches and warnings they do it for a specific reason that we may or may not see or understand . It is up to you to respect and understand these situations . In order to hear these people you have to have a weather radio and the 'SAME' ones are just simply marvelous , is the only word I can think to describe them . Now , who knows what kind or how active of a spring season we will have , but it is STRICTLY up to you whether you HERE and KNOW when a watch or warning is in effect . It could very well be life or death to you or loved ones . Espically during the nite time hours , when factually is when most of our tornadoes strike . WHEN YOU ARE ASLEEP ! Of course, after you hear the alert , then , if not allready , turn on James and the team and find out what you need to do . No , I do not work for the NWS or 3340 , but I do care even though I get a rush out of this kind of weather . So please get a radio and protect your-selves . Just like if you have a smoke , fire or burglar alarm , you need a tornado alarm . Thank you & GOD bless.

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 8:14 pm

John, how much would one with the SAME feature be, in case one occurs in the middle of the night?

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Posted by John T.
on February 21, 2006, 8:20 pm

Argus they run about $40- 60 or so . But they are totally worth it sir . I got mine at Radio Shack on sale for about $30. . Of course , the best think about them is you can program them SPECIFICLY for your county or counties around you with the FIPS codes . Almost any electronic store should have them .

Also , for those with cell phones sign up with E-WARN from 3340 . Its free from THEM . Now , you might have text charges for your comp. but , where talking your safety .

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Posted by John T.
on February 21, 2006, 8:31 pm

Also , after you program it . Thats it . The NWS operates it all by theirselves . Its actually unique to watch it operate after you personalize program it for what you want . Just sit back and watch it go . It will go from alert mode to active back to alert mode ALL without your help . VERY INDEPENDANT

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Posted by
on February 21, 2006, 10:00 pm

Stephanie,
you sitll have not answered my question yet. Why the change of heart about spring. Just a week ago, you were bouncing up and down wanting snow so bad. Now you are talking about spring. What happened to the snow dancing?????????????

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Posted by www
on February 21, 2006, 10:32 pm

I thought I answered you CC!! WOnder if it did not post correctly?? Having serious issues with the lovely PC, and that may be why you never got answered sorry!!

My change of heart is simply this: I am tired of being cooped up inside with 2 roudy kids. One goes outside, the other can not, as he is still a baby and it is simply too cold right now for him. When spring comes, I can introduce his riding toys, he has room in the front yard to run, and the older child will be out more as well.

3 rainy cold weekends in a row has given me the worst case of the winter blues.

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Posted by John T.
on February 21, 2006, 10:10 pm

Well Stephanie , aparently you can not have a change in heart about weather . Funny.... and you aparently also have to answer questions from others on here . Also funny.... can folks not change their mind ?

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Posted by www
on February 21, 2006, 10:38 pm

Hey John T....

My Midland NOAA Radio has two alarms on it, which I feel correct in assuming that it works as a dual alarm clock (in case the power goes out in the middle of the night. )
I have followed instructions to a "T" and have had others look as well ( to make sure it is not the "operator" (myself) failure.
These alarms go off twice a day and I cannot get them unset. We go thru batteries once a week due to this issue.
Has anyone else had this problem? Mine is the yellow and black portable model. I am considering returning it to the manufacturer (or to Walmart for that matter)
So frustrating!!

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Posted by John T.
on February 21, 2006, 10:58 pm

Stephaine I honestly don't know on that one . Mine is just plain weather radio . It is a wall mount or table top . My sugestion would be to take it back and ask about it or simply get another different type . I have an atomic radio controlled alarm clock; love it , battery powered and they seam to last forever . Don't have to reset it for CST or DST automatically does itself .

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Posted by
on February 22, 2006, 12:07 am

Just as soon as you get the riding toys out for them to play with and you go inside overnight and they get left outside, Then it will snow and you will have to dig for the toys.

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Posted by
on February 22, 2006, 6:24 am

Thanks John T!! I think I will take this one back. It is obviously not working correctly.

CC - I believe you are right! That would be just my luck LOL!!

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