A Summer-Like Pattern

The Thursday morning map discussion video is on the server:

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

This pattern looks like something you might see in July instead of March. The primary storm track well to the north and west; surface fronts running out of gas as they approach Alabama. Little chance of any severe weather; above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall. That is pretty much the story through mid-April.

Today should be another nice day. A partly sunny sky with a warm afternoon. Our forecast has a high of 79 today; some spots will probably exceed 80.

While we have the warm and dry weather, a severe weather situation will be unfolding for mid-America. SPC has a moderate risk of severe storms today in place for places like Tulsa and Kansas City, with a slight risk surrounding that.

TOMORROW/SATURDAY: The storm system responsible for the severe weather today over the central U.S. will move to the Great Lakes, and the trailing front will approach Alabama tomorow night. I still think most of the day tomorrow should be dry, but a band of showers and storms will ease into the Tennessee Valley tomorrow night. The GFS is now suggesting the front will stall and fizzle out before reaching I-20. So, we will continue to mention the best chance of showers Friday night. For Saturday, you cannot rule out a few scattered showers since we really never get into drier air, but with no upper support and fairly stable air, I just don't think rain will be a big issue on Saturday.

SUNDAY: A new system forms Sunday over the middle of the nation, and the old surface boundary, whatever is left of it, should lift northward as a warm front. Once again, I don't expect much rain at all, but a few isolated showers could form over the northern quarter of the state during the afternoon.

MONDAY: The surface low moves northward to the Great Lakes, and the trailing surface boundary might set off a few showers on Monday. But, once again, no severe weather, and rainfall amounts should be light.

REST OF NEXT WEEK: Pretty much the same routine. Another major storm out across the Rockies, but it makes little eastward progress. This should mean mostly dry weather here Tuesday through Thursday. The decaying surface front might bring showers by Friday April 7.

WINTER FADES AWAY: For you winter fans, scroll down and check out those Mt. Leconte pictures from one of our readers. No more really cold weather for a long time, but we can always enjoy those scenes.

BUSY DAY: I will be doing a big severe weather safety program up in Gardendale this morning for the city employees there, while Jason Simpson will be in downtown Birmingham at the Project Impact Community Awareness Day at Linn Park. I will be back in the office this afternoon and the next map discussion video will be available by 3:30!
Posted by   www
on March 30, 2006, 7:23 am
YAY! Finally back into warm shorts weather.

Heading to Orange Beach shortly. Please say your prayers for my grandmother, who is having surgery this morning at So. Baldwin Co. Hospital in Foley. She has colon cancer, but her surgeons are optimistic!.
Anyone else heading in my direction I found out the weather is supposed to be nice down there!


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Posted by  
on March 30, 2006, 8:27 am
Stephanie have a safe trip and I hope your grandmother does well. Well goldwing looks like you have some great riding weather comeing up so get out there and enjoy the bike. :):) But I do have to wonder if we might see some rough weather in May I hope not it's been a long time since we had a dry hot May.

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Posted by  
on March 30, 2006, 9:22 am
I certainly hope everything goes well with your grandmother, Stephanie. Be safe.


You know, it's funny. It seems like the last few years, the storm systems make a "jump" sometime in March and the severe weather simply "skips" us. In Jan and Feb, the storms are too far south for the really unstable air to get up here. In March, April and May.. the jet stream has already shifted so far north that the dynamics for Severe WX have shifted way north.

That's odd. I don't think this used to happen b/c I remember a time when I was younger that pretty much every week through Late March and April there was a "weekly tornado watch". I wonder why this has changed???

Oh well. Too bad I don't have the time or brains to figure it out. Have a good day everyone!

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Posted by Matt  
on March 30, 2006, 11:13 am
James,

Any idea how bad the wind will be tomorrow on area lakes?

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Posted by maebrock  
on March 30, 2006, 12:23 pm
Loved those snow scenes; however, since I'm into Spring fever now I'll dream those dreams next winter. Stephanie, certainly our prayers are with you.

Mae


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Posted by  
on March 30, 2006, 2:35 pm
THanks Michael, I plan on getting out tomora some, and most of the day on Saturday.

Still kinda cool in the morning when its 46 degrees to ride to work tho - but I think those temps will be gone soon enough.

Steph, my thoughts and prayers for your grandmother. Have a safe trip.

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Posted by   www
on March 30, 2006, 4:33 pm
Thanks all!!
Surgery was successful, the docs are pleased with how it went. She will be hospitalized for 7 days - I havent seen her yet, will in the morning when she is better awake, and has had some rest.

It has been a really beautiful day- God is good!

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Posted by   www
on March 30, 2006, 9:12 pm
Stephanie...I will remember your grandmother in prayer. My mom and dad both had colon cancer in 1997 and 1998 and they have been cancer free ever since their surgeries. http://mikewx.blogspot.com/

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