The Wednesday morning map discussion video is on the web, and avalable on iTunes:
http://www.jamesspann.com/
Note the location on the server has changed... just follow the link on the page above to see the video.
Once again, we are rendering the map discussion videos now in the QuickTime format. With the iPod craze in recent years, Quicktime (which is included with iTunes) is installed on 95 percent of computers in the nation, so you shouldn't have to do anything to your system for the videos to play. If by chance you don't have QT, you can get it as a free download here:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download
I will be adjusting the exact video files in coming days for the best quality and the best load time. It is all a learning process as I move from the Windows platform over to the OS X environment. And, I will write a post by the end of the week on the journey. I have always been a computer/radio type geek and enjoy stuff like this....
MOIST AIR: A good feed of tropical moisture in the high levels continues over the southern two-thirds of Alabama this morning. Water vapor satellite images shows this moisture coming from our tropical disturbance over the southern tip of Texas, and we even have a few showers in progress this morning over West Alabama's Sumter, Greene, and Hale counties. A few scattered showers and storms should fire up during the day, but the GFS is not as wet as it was yesterday. Most of the good moisture feed for the moment is in the high levels, but low level dewpoints should steadily increase as we go through the rest of the week.The GFS now identifies our best coverage of showers and storms on Friday and Saturday and goes nuts with POPs on both of those days (POP=probability of precipitation).
Bottom line is that we will go with the broad brush approach and mention scattered showers and storms on a daily basis through the rest of the week and into the weekend, with the best chance of rain during the afternoon. But, in a pure tropical airmass you can't rule out a stray morning shower or two, like the ones we have this morning over West Alabama.
Temperatures should be pretty close to normal for late July; daily highs around or just above 90 degrees for most spots. Yesterday, Muscle Shoals soared to 97 and was the state hot spot. The air was much drier up there, allowing it to heat more effectively.
TROPICS: While our system over the far western Gulf probably won't get a name, it is stirring up a fuss this morning. A tornado warning is in effect as I write this for Vermilion and Cameron parishes in Louisiana, and a few counties along the central Texas coast are under flash flooding warnings. Elsewhere, not much is happening with just a weak wave just east of the Leeward Islands.
Way out in the Pacific, people in Hawaii are breathing a little easier as Daniel has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it approaches the islands. Looks like the core of the system will pass a little to the south of Hawaii. Dry air is wrapping in the system and it should continue to weaken. The Big Island of Hawaii might get some rain, but no major problems are likely.
WEATHER PARTY: Don't forget to bookmark our latest site, weatherparty.com:
http://www.weatherparty.com/
Lots of great weather news and information over there; be sure and register and you can vote on the links to determine what goes on the front page. And, of course, you submit links as well. This is one of those sites where the readers determine what goes on the main page. I check it out often.
WEATHER BRAINS: We posted this week's WeatherBrains episode yesterday; I love the interview with Dr. John Knox as he discusses the legendary J.B. Elliott. Be sure and listen when you have some time:
http://www.weatherbrains.com/
I should have the next map discussion video posted on time today around 3:30...
http://www.jamesspann.com/
Note the location on the server has changed... just follow the link on the page above to see the video.
Once again, we are rendering the map discussion videos now in the QuickTime format. With the iPod craze in recent years, Quicktime (which is included with iTunes) is installed on 95 percent of computers in the nation, so you shouldn't have to do anything to your system for the videos to play. If by chance you don't have QT, you can get it as a free download here:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download
I will be adjusting the exact video files in coming days for the best quality and the best load time. It is all a learning process as I move from the Windows platform over to the OS X environment. And, I will write a post by the end of the week on the journey. I have always been a computer/radio type geek and enjoy stuff like this....
MOIST AIR: A good feed of tropical moisture in the high levels continues over the southern two-thirds of Alabama this morning. Water vapor satellite images shows this moisture coming from our tropical disturbance over the southern tip of Texas, and we even have a few showers in progress this morning over West Alabama's Sumter, Greene, and Hale counties. A few scattered showers and storms should fire up during the day, but the GFS is not as wet as it was yesterday. Most of the good moisture feed for the moment is in the high levels, but low level dewpoints should steadily increase as we go through the rest of the week.The GFS now identifies our best coverage of showers and storms on Friday and Saturday and goes nuts with POPs on both of those days (POP=probability of precipitation).
Bottom line is that we will go with the broad brush approach and mention scattered showers and storms on a daily basis through the rest of the week and into the weekend, with the best chance of rain during the afternoon. But, in a pure tropical airmass you can't rule out a stray morning shower or two, like the ones we have this morning over West Alabama.
Temperatures should be pretty close to normal for late July; daily highs around or just above 90 degrees for most spots. Yesterday, Muscle Shoals soared to 97 and was the state hot spot. The air was much drier up there, allowing it to heat more effectively.
TROPICS: While our system over the far western Gulf probably won't get a name, it is stirring up a fuss this morning. A tornado warning is in effect as I write this for Vermilion and Cameron parishes in Louisiana, and a few counties along the central Texas coast are under flash flooding warnings. Elsewhere, not much is happening with just a weak wave just east of the Leeward Islands.
Way out in the Pacific, people in Hawaii are breathing a little easier as Daniel has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it approaches the islands. Looks like the core of the system will pass a little to the south of Hawaii. Dry air is wrapping in the system and it should continue to weaken. The Big Island of Hawaii might get some rain, but no major problems are likely.
WEATHER PARTY: Don't forget to bookmark our latest site, weatherparty.com:
http://www.weatherparty.com/
Lots of great weather news and information over there; be sure and register and you can vote on the links to determine what goes on the front page. And, of course, you submit links as well. This is one of those sites where the readers determine what goes on the main page. I check it out often.
WEATHER BRAINS: We posted this week's WeatherBrains episode yesterday; I love the interview with Dr. John Knox as he discusses the legendary J.B. Elliott. Be sure and listen when you have some time:
http://www.weatherbrains.com/
I should have the next map discussion video posted on time today around 3:30...