The Monday afternoon map discussion video is on the web, and also available on iTunes:
http://www.jamesspann.com/
Here is a rundown on current temperautres around our SKYCAM network as I write this, shortly before 3:00:
Demopolis 98
Downtown Birmingham 97
Jasper 97
Inverness 96
Hamilton 95
Tuscaloosa 95
Gadsden 90 (a shower passed near the site within the hour)
Cheaha State Park 89
I get some angry e-mail from time to time from telling me our temperatures are too low. Even today I have had notes from people reporting temperatures like 103, 104, and even 107.
It is very difficult to measure air temperature properly on a hot summer day like today unless you have professional instruments. You pretty much have to have an aspirating fan on your thermometer this time of the year; otherwise you are simply measuring the temperature of the shelter housing the thermometer. Much like how your car is hotter inside after it sits outside in the sun for a while.
RADAR CHECK: We do have a few small, isolated showers and storms on the radar this afternoon. In fact, some of the storms around Ohatchee are producing plenty of lightning as I write this. Showers and storms are possible over the next few days, but they will remain isolated.
HEAT CHECK: I don't think temperatures will change all that much through mid-week. Highs will remain in the 95 to 100 degree range for most communities through Thursday.
SOME HEAT RELIEF: The GFS continues to advertise an upper trough forming over the eastern U.S. this weekend, which should bring a surface front down to I-40 by Saturday. This should mean coverage of showers and storms going up, and temperatures coming down a bit over the weekend. No complaints about that.
A CODE ORANGE OZONE ALERT has been issued for tomorrow by the Jefferson County Department of Heath... that means air quality should be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Ground level ozone will probably be an issue on Wednesday as well.
TROPICS HEATING UP: The disturbance east/southeast of the Carolina coast has a chance to become a tropical depression during the next 24 hours. Some of the tropical models bring the system toward the south Atlantic coast of the U.S., but others keep it nearly stationary. The developing upper trough over the eastern U.S. should carry this system out to sea by the weekend, but the short term motion remains rather uncertain.
Another nice wave is just coming off the coast of Africa, and a strong system is moving through the Northwest Atlantic... well to the east of Cape Cod; that one is becoming extra-tropical.
Sure enjoyed the visit at Alabama Power Company's headquarters today... thanks to everyone there for the great hospitality and the tour of their very impressive media facilities. I will have the next map discussion video posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
http://www.jamesspann.com/
Here is a rundown on current temperautres around our SKYCAM network as I write this, shortly before 3:00:
Demopolis 98
Downtown Birmingham 97
Jasper 97
Inverness 96
Hamilton 95
Tuscaloosa 95
Gadsden 90 (a shower passed near the site within the hour)
Cheaha State Park 89
I get some angry e-mail from time to time from telling me our temperatures are too low. Even today I have had notes from people reporting temperatures like 103, 104, and even 107.
It is very difficult to measure air temperature properly on a hot summer day like today unless you have professional instruments. You pretty much have to have an aspirating fan on your thermometer this time of the year; otherwise you are simply measuring the temperature of the shelter housing the thermometer. Much like how your car is hotter inside after it sits outside in the sun for a while.
RADAR CHECK: We do have a few small, isolated showers and storms on the radar this afternoon. In fact, some of the storms around Ohatchee are producing plenty of lightning as I write this. Showers and storms are possible over the next few days, but they will remain isolated.
HEAT CHECK: I don't think temperatures will change all that much through mid-week. Highs will remain in the 95 to 100 degree range for most communities through Thursday.
SOME HEAT RELIEF: The GFS continues to advertise an upper trough forming over the eastern U.S. this weekend, which should bring a surface front down to I-40 by Saturday. This should mean coverage of showers and storms going up, and temperatures coming down a bit over the weekend. No complaints about that.
A CODE ORANGE OZONE ALERT has been issued for tomorrow by the Jefferson County Department of Heath... that means air quality should be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Ground level ozone will probably be an issue on Wednesday as well.
TROPICS HEATING UP: The disturbance east/southeast of the Carolina coast has a chance to become a tropical depression during the next 24 hours. Some of the tropical models bring the system toward the south Atlantic coast of the U.S., but others keep it nearly stationary. The developing upper trough over the eastern U.S. should carry this system out to sea by the weekend, but the short term motion remains rather uncertain.
Another nice wave is just coming off the coast of Africa, and a strong system is moving through the Northwest Atlantic... well to the east of Cape Cod; that one is becoming extra-tropical.
Sure enjoyed the visit at Alabama Power Company's headquarters today... thanks to everyone there for the great hospitality and the tour of their very impressive media facilities. I will have the next map discussion video posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
on July 17, 2006, 2:38 pm
Thanks James for letting me know about this, I felt my readings were too high, and being a new station owner, I want to be sure everything is accurate, otherwise whats the point?
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