Here Comes The Sun?

The Thursday morning map discussion video is on the server:

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

"Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darlin' it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun"

We might be a little optimistic forecasting breaks in the overcast this afternoon, but we will keep it in the forecast for now. Rain is still falling at my place as I write this at 5:30 a.m. My total here in Shelby County yesterday was 1.31", and since midnight I have measured an additional 0.63" for a storm total of 1.94".

I sure didn't expect that much rain; the models didn't have a clue either. Just a reminder of this difficult pattern with the STJ overhead. Talk about surprises, how about those tornado warnings late yesterday. That was quite logistic problem for us; I was at McFarland Mall in Tuscaloosa with Brian Peters for the Tuscaloosa County EMA severe weather awareness event, and John Oldshue was in the studio. We had to go "wall to wall" when Chilton County was placed under a warning around 5:45. We were sure thankful for our pals from Comcast down in Tuscaloosa for setting up an open wi-fi hot spot in the mall; that sure came in handy for us. The radar signatures were pretty impressive, and funnel clouds were spotted southwest of Maplesville. But, to our knowledge they did not touch down and no damage was reported.

That rotation crossed U.S. 82 between Mulberry Creek and Jim's Pit BBQ... pretty much in open country.

TODAY: We think the rain will be ending from north to south this morning, and yes, we might see some sun breaking through the clouds this afternoon. Temperatures should hold in the 50s pretty much all day.

TOMORROW: A much brigher day. Ample sunshine with the mercury reaching the 60s. Not bad at all.

SATURDAY: Here comes the rain again. A wave forms on the Gulf coast, which should spread rain into almost all of Alabama. The heaviest rain should fall over South Alabama, but we will be wet at times up this way.

SUNDAY/MONDAY: Drier and colder air rolls in. This time the bulk of the really cold air is headed for New England. Still, we should be well below freezing Monday morning.

NEXT WEEK: Some hint of rain returning on Tuesday. The pattern remains active and difficult, expect changeable weather much of next week.

LONG RANGE: The GFS continues to back off on a severe weather threat here in the March 4-7 time frame, it is now running the storm from the west coast to the high plains, keeping a ridge in place here. However, the month generally looks active as the spring tornado season begins here across the Deep South.

STORM ALERT 2006: We will be in Gadsdsen tonight for the show at the Convention Hall; come down early to get a good seat and a free t-shirt. You will see some great Alabama weather stories and you have a chance to meet our weather team. And, don't forget the final show is next TUESDAY (not Thursday) at the Northport Civic Center.

TODAY: I will be speaking to the kids today at Shades Mountain Elementary School in Hoover... I hope to have time to crank out a video update this afternoon before we leave for Gadsden. I will have a blog discussion one way or another!
Posted by John T.  
on February 23, 2006, 6:53 am
James you did good , real good covering the tornado warnings from Tusc. yesterday being away from the office & the 'green wall ' . You were the only one to give true 100% non-stop coverage of it all ( note i said non-stop ) . Maybe it will help show the importants of what yaw are trying to do in teaching tornado safety & at the same time having to do warning coverage from the same place . Any whos , sitting rite at 50* with 0.77" rain from midnite , with a total so far of 2.46" for the 2 days -- not to bad I guess . All have blessed & fun Fridays' eve. .

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Posted by  
on February 23, 2006, 7:55 am
Well this is my rainfall total from the rain since yesterday and last night.

1.15

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Posted by   www
on February 23, 2006, 8:00 am
I am going to have to drain the pool cover again this morning, it is sagging nicely from the weight of the past weeks rain.

But first... off to the rink for my workout :)

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Posted by  
on February 23, 2006, 8:32 am
Here comes the sun......the Beatles

whutdidiwin?

duckfetchr

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Posted by Stephen  
on February 23, 2006, 2:16 pm
Atta boy!! That's all you won duckfetchr. Try Wheel of Fortune next time! ha

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