The Tuesday morning map discussion video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
I often get questions about the terms we use here, and in the map discussion videos...
540 line?
NAM?
vort max?
NAO?
Here is a great glossary site that should help:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/severewx/glossary.php
That one comes from the NWS in Norman and is really designed for storm spotters, but that should prove helpful as we get into the spring tornado season. I will try to write up my own one day.
MOVIN' ON UP: Spring fever will be running wild today and tomorrow. We expect the mercury to reach 70 today in many commuities, with low 70s likely tomorrow. The NAM is actually printing 76 for Birmingham tomorrow; that seems a little aggressive. We will use the GFS high of 73 in our forecast.
THURSDAY SHOWERS? A weak front will slip in here Thursday evening. We will mention the risk of a few scattered showers, but the system is not impressive with little upper support and limited moisture. Rainfall should be light and spotty.
Daytime temperatures will cool off by about 10 degrees on Friday, with highs back in the 60 to 65 degree range, exactly normal for early March in Alabama.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: Saturday still looks dry with highs in the 60s, and then on Sunday there will be a risk of showers or storms around the state. Looks like our Thursday evening front will be moving northward as a warm front on Sunday. The GFS continues to suggest the best chance of showers Sunday will be over the northern third of the state, north of I-20. Once again, this probably won't be a big rain event.
NEXT WEEK: The pattern amplifies again and cold air drives into the eastern third of the U.S. early next week. Highs drop into the 50 to 55 degree range here Monday, and a late season freeze seems likely both Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Lows should be down in the 20s.
Guess I should mention at this point the average date of the last freeze in Birmingham is March 23, but we have seen freezing temperatures here as late as April 23.
LONG RANGE: The GFS (06Z run) paints a severe weather setup for Alabama in the March 12-13 time frame now, followed by a major late season cold snap around March 15-16. All of this is voodoo, but there is come credibility behind these ideas.
STORM ALERT 2006: The last chance dance is tonight... the final stop on our annual weather tour will be at the Northport Civic Center. The show begins at 7:00... you know the deal... get there early for a good seat! Free shirts for the first 500 people there.
SOUTHEAST SEVERE STORMS SYMPOSIUM: Don't forget the annual Southeast Severe Storms Symposium is this Friday and Saturday (March 3/4) at Mississippi State University. Learn more here:
http://www.msstate.edu/org/nwa/symposium.shtml
If you really like weather and want to learn more about severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, you will really enjoy this event. Starkville is only one hour west of Tuscaloosa, and two hours west of Birmingham.
TODAY: I will be speaking at Meadow View Elementary School in Alabaster today... with the travel schedule I am not sure I will be able to crank out an afternoon map discussion video, but I will do my best. One way or another I will have a blog discussion post by 3:30 or so....
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
I often get questions about the terms we use here, and in the map discussion videos...
540 line?
NAM?
vort max?
NAO?
Here is a great glossary site that should help:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/severewx/glossary.php
That one comes from the NWS in Norman and is really designed for storm spotters, but that should prove helpful as we get into the spring tornado season. I will try to write up my own one day.
MOVIN' ON UP: Spring fever will be running wild today and tomorrow. We expect the mercury to reach 70 today in many commuities, with low 70s likely tomorrow. The NAM is actually printing 76 for Birmingham tomorrow; that seems a little aggressive. We will use the GFS high of 73 in our forecast.
THURSDAY SHOWERS? A weak front will slip in here Thursday evening. We will mention the risk of a few scattered showers, but the system is not impressive with little upper support and limited moisture. Rainfall should be light and spotty.
Daytime temperatures will cool off by about 10 degrees on Friday, with highs back in the 60 to 65 degree range, exactly normal for early March in Alabama.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: Saturday still looks dry with highs in the 60s, and then on Sunday there will be a risk of showers or storms around the state. Looks like our Thursday evening front will be moving northward as a warm front on Sunday. The GFS continues to suggest the best chance of showers Sunday will be over the northern third of the state, north of I-20. Once again, this probably won't be a big rain event.
NEXT WEEK: The pattern amplifies again and cold air drives into the eastern third of the U.S. early next week. Highs drop into the 50 to 55 degree range here Monday, and a late season freeze seems likely both Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Lows should be down in the 20s.
Guess I should mention at this point the average date of the last freeze in Birmingham is March 23, but we have seen freezing temperatures here as late as April 23.
LONG RANGE: The GFS (06Z run) paints a severe weather setup for Alabama in the March 12-13 time frame now, followed by a major late season cold snap around March 15-16. All of this is voodoo, but there is come credibility behind these ideas.
STORM ALERT 2006: The last chance dance is tonight... the final stop on our annual weather tour will be at the Northport Civic Center. The show begins at 7:00... you know the deal... get there early for a good seat! Free shirts for the first 500 people there.
SOUTHEAST SEVERE STORMS SYMPOSIUM: Don't forget the annual Southeast Severe Storms Symposium is this Friday and Saturday (March 3/4) at Mississippi State University. Learn more here:
http://www.msstate.edu/org/nwa/symposium.shtml
If you really like weather and want to learn more about severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, you will really enjoy this event. Starkville is only one hour west of Tuscaloosa, and two hours west of Birmingham.
TODAY: I will be speaking at Meadow View Elementary School in Alabaster today... with the travel schedule I am not sure I will be able to crank out an afternoon map discussion video, but I will do my best. One way or another I will have a blog discussion post by 3:30 or so....
on February 28, 2006, 7:16 am
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