The Thursday afternoon map discussion video is on the web, and also available on iTunes:
http://www.jamesspann.com/
RADAR CHECK: I am watching our SKYCAM in downtown Birmingham as I write this; rain is falling and the temperature has dropped to 85 degrees thanks to a nice thunderstorm overhead. A reminder you can see all of the SKYCAM images and weather data here:
http://www.abc3340.com/static/skycams/skycamsmain.html
Scattered storms will continue this evening; most of them should be over by 9:00 or 10:00 as the air gradually becomes more stable.
TOMORROW: We should begin to see an increase in the number of showers and storms by afternoon as the heat bubble begins to slide to the west. Still, we will be hot and humid with mid 90s likely.
THE WEEKEND: We will are forecasting an increase in the coverage of showers and storms over the weekend as a long wave upper trough forms over the eastern U.S., and a surface front slips into North Alabama. High temperatures over the weekend should be in the 87 to 90 degree range, a nice change from the upper 90s in recent days.
Some model disagreement over the placement of the front on Sunday. The GFS pushes the front to I-85, and if that is correct we should be dry and less humid. However, the NAM has the front closer to U.S. 278 on Sunday (Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden), and that position would suggest more showers and storms around here. For now, we side with the NAM solution and will maintain a decent chance of showers and storms into Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: If the 12Z run of the GFS is correct, then dry air will slip into the northern half of Alabama on Monday and Tuesday, with all of the showers and storms over the southern counties of state. But, I am not totally confident in that solution just yet. If the 00Z run comes in with the dry air over North Alabama, we will back off on the chance of rain on those two days. The front will dissipate and moisture will return statewide by Wednesday.
TROPICS: Tropical storm Beryl is about 125 miles south/southeast of New York City, moving north-northeast. Sustained winds are near 60 mph, and the system will clip the New England coast late tonight and tomorrow. The rest of the Atlantic basin is amazingly quiet.
Going to get back to radar duty... thankfully it seems like we won't have as many wet microbursts around the state today. See all of the damage reports from yesterday here:
http://www.weather.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=AL&prodtype=public
The next map discussion video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
http://www.jamesspann.com/
RADAR CHECK: I am watching our SKYCAM in downtown Birmingham as I write this; rain is falling and the temperature has dropped to 85 degrees thanks to a nice thunderstorm overhead. A reminder you can see all of the SKYCAM images and weather data here:
http://www.abc3340.com/static/skycams/skycamsmain.html
Scattered storms will continue this evening; most of them should be over by 9:00 or 10:00 as the air gradually becomes more stable.
TOMORROW: We should begin to see an increase in the number of showers and storms by afternoon as the heat bubble begins to slide to the west. Still, we will be hot and humid with mid 90s likely.
THE WEEKEND: We will are forecasting an increase in the coverage of showers and storms over the weekend as a long wave upper trough forms over the eastern U.S., and a surface front slips into North Alabama. High temperatures over the weekend should be in the 87 to 90 degree range, a nice change from the upper 90s in recent days.
Some model disagreement over the placement of the front on Sunday. The GFS pushes the front to I-85, and if that is correct we should be dry and less humid. However, the NAM has the front closer to U.S. 278 on Sunday (Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden), and that position would suggest more showers and storms around here. For now, we side with the NAM solution and will maintain a decent chance of showers and storms into Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: If the 12Z run of the GFS is correct, then dry air will slip into the northern half of Alabama on Monday and Tuesday, with all of the showers and storms over the southern counties of state. But, I am not totally confident in that solution just yet. If the 00Z run comes in with the dry air over North Alabama, we will back off on the chance of rain on those two days. The front will dissipate and moisture will return statewide by Wednesday.
TROPICS: Tropical storm Beryl is about 125 miles south/southeast of New York City, moving north-northeast. Sustained winds are near 60 mph, and the system will clip the New England coast late tonight and tomorrow. The rest of the Atlantic basin is amazingly quiet.
Going to get back to radar duty... thankfully it seems like we won't have as many wet microbursts around the state today. See all of the damage reports from yesterday here:
http://www.weather.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=AL&prodtype=public
The next map discussion video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!