The Thursday afternoon map discussion video is on the web, and available on iTunes:
http://www.jamesspann.com/
It is quite rare to talk about well defined surface fronts south of Birmingham in July, but we sure have that right now. The front passed through right on time, around 1:00 this afternoon.
For the Birmingham metro area, rainfall on the front was basically non-existent today. You often hear me talk about the uneven rainfall distribution with summer weather systems; that was the case this time. About three inches in Muscle Shoals to the north, and now nice showers and storms have formed on the front to the south along the U.S. 80 corridor. Scroll down and read J.B.'s posts on the rain situation.
All of Alabama is enjoying a nice break from the heat, however. At our SKYCAM site atop the Daniel Building in downtown Birmingham, the high today so far is only 82 degrees. Over at Mt. Cheaha, the high today so far is only 77 (along with whopping 0.04" of rain).
Dewpoints will drop tonight as the dry air continues to move into the state, and we should be in the 60 to 65 degree range by daybrak tomorrow. Some of the cooler valleys should reach the upper 50s; quite a breath of fresh air for July in Alabama.
We will be dry with mostly sunny days and clear nights through the weekend. Humidity values will be pretty low, and nights will be comfortable.
NEXT WEEK: Moist air returns, and we will bring back the chance of scattered, mainly afternoon and evening showers and storms. Temperatures should be near normal, with the mercury peaking in the 89 to 93 degree range on most days.
TROPICS: As stated here for the past several days, we will watch the northern Gulf this weekend as the old front stalls over that region. I would not be shocked if a tropical depression forms there; lets hope for a northward movement if that is the case and some good rain here. Not a forecast, just a wishful thought. Elsewhere, the disturbed area of weather over south Florida and the southeast Gulf is an upper trough, a feature continues to meander across the western Gulf of Mexico. But, there are no organized systems at this time.
LONG RANGE: The 12Z GFS offers no big change in the July outlook; "normal" seems to be the word here with temperatures and rainfall. The most intense heat should be over the western half of the nation.
JOIN THE PARTY: Check out our new website for a quick glance at the latest weather news:
http://www.weatherparty.com/
You are the editor; register and you can submit stories and links, and vote on suggested links to determine what goes on the front page. We are having a ton of fun with that site.
JASPER SKYCAM: The new Jasper SKYCAM is on the web:
http://www.abc3340.com/static/skycams/skycamsmain.html
We will be adding more sites in coming weeks, including Gulf Shores. Stay tuned!
The next map discussion video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
http://www.jamesspann.com/
It is quite rare to talk about well defined surface fronts south of Birmingham in July, but we sure have that right now. The front passed through right on time, around 1:00 this afternoon.
For the Birmingham metro area, rainfall on the front was basically non-existent today. You often hear me talk about the uneven rainfall distribution with summer weather systems; that was the case this time. About three inches in Muscle Shoals to the north, and now nice showers and storms have formed on the front to the south along the U.S. 80 corridor. Scroll down and read J.B.'s posts on the rain situation.
All of Alabama is enjoying a nice break from the heat, however. At our SKYCAM site atop the Daniel Building in downtown Birmingham, the high today so far is only 82 degrees. Over at Mt. Cheaha, the high today so far is only 77 (along with whopping 0.04" of rain).
Dewpoints will drop tonight as the dry air continues to move into the state, and we should be in the 60 to 65 degree range by daybrak tomorrow. Some of the cooler valleys should reach the upper 50s; quite a breath of fresh air for July in Alabama.
We will be dry with mostly sunny days and clear nights through the weekend. Humidity values will be pretty low, and nights will be comfortable.
NEXT WEEK: Moist air returns, and we will bring back the chance of scattered, mainly afternoon and evening showers and storms. Temperatures should be near normal, with the mercury peaking in the 89 to 93 degree range on most days.
TROPICS: As stated here for the past several days, we will watch the northern Gulf this weekend as the old front stalls over that region. I would not be shocked if a tropical depression forms there; lets hope for a northward movement if that is the case and some good rain here. Not a forecast, just a wishful thought. Elsewhere, the disturbed area of weather over south Florida and the southeast Gulf is an upper trough, a feature continues to meander across the western Gulf of Mexico. But, there are no organized systems at this time.
LONG RANGE: The 12Z GFS offers no big change in the July outlook; "normal" seems to be the word here with temperatures and rainfall. The most intense heat should be over the western half of the nation.
JOIN THE PARTY: Check out our new website for a quick glance at the latest weather news:
http://www.weatherparty.com/
You are the editor; register and you can submit stories and links, and vote on suggested links to determine what goes on the front page. We are having a ton of fun with that site.
JASPER SKYCAM: The new Jasper SKYCAM is on the web:
http://www.abc3340.com/static/skycams/skycamsmain.html
We will be adding more sites in coming weeks, including Gulf Shores. Stay tuned!
The next map discussion video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!