The Thursday afternoon map discussion video is on the web, and also available on iTunes:
http://www.jamesspann.com/
In the forecast for today, we mentioned isolated showers this afternoon. That is good since we sure have some on the radar this afternoon. They are widely spaced, but there is one strong storm producing lots of lightning where Walker, Blount, and Cullman counties all come together. We have even had reports of some small hail from that storm.
Seems like the showers and storms have formed on a dry line which seperates the lower dewpoints over North Alabama from the moist air over the southern two-thirds of the state. At 2:30 p.m. our SKYCAM network shows a dewpoint of 56 at Hamilton, but the dewpoint is up to 65 at Birmingham and Mt. Cheaha. Also, the southwest flow at 500 mb is also favorable for a few showers.
TOMORROW AND THE WEEKEND: Still no real change in our thinking. We might have a few showers around each afternoon, but there is no well defined trigger for rain and any showers or storms that form should be pretty isolated. Most communities will be dry, and afternoon temperatures should reach the upper 80s. Nights won't be as cool as low level moisture continues to rise across Alabama.
NEXT WEEK: The 12Z GFS continues the trend of pushing the best chance of rain toward the end of the week. Looks like any showers on Monday and Tuesday will be widely spaced. A cold front slips in here by late Thursday and Friday, and becomes stationary, which hopefully will bring some beneficial rain to the state in about a week or so.
FLORENCE: The system has been handled very well by all of the global models, it still looks like Florence will remain east of the Atlantic coast next week as it recurves into the open Atlantic. Still might be a close call for Nova Scotia in about 6 to 7 days. Florence is having some problems with dry air and shear, but it still has a good chance of becoming a significant hurricane in coming days over the open Atlantic.
ELSEWHERE: Florence has a very large circulation is is taking much of the central Atlantic; elsewhere the tropics are fairly quiet.
I sure enjoyed seeing the big crowd out at Glenwood today; I spoke with students from the Allan Cott and Lakeview schools today; look for them on ABC 33/40 news at 5:00. Glenwood, Inc. is a non profit organization, incorporated in 1973 for the purpose of educating and treating children, adolescents, and adults who are emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, and those diagnosed with autism. For more than 30 years, Glenwood has been devoted to helping individuals reach their full potential and be productive members of society. It is a great ministry and I always enjoy coming out to visit.
I will have the next map discussion video posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow... have a great evening!
http://www.jamesspann.com/
In the forecast for today, we mentioned isolated showers this afternoon. That is good since we sure have some on the radar this afternoon. They are widely spaced, but there is one strong storm producing lots of lightning where Walker, Blount, and Cullman counties all come together. We have even had reports of some small hail from that storm.
Seems like the showers and storms have formed on a dry line which seperates the lower dewpoints over North Alabama from the moist air over the southern two-thirds of the state. At 2:30 p.m. our SKYCAM network shows a dewpoint of 56 at Hamilton, but the dewpoint is up to 65 at Birmingham and Mt. Cheaha. Also, the southwest flow at 500 mb is also favorable for a few showers.
TOMORROW AND THE WEEKEND: Still no real change in our thinking. We might have a few showers around each afternoon, but there is no well defined trigger for rain and any showers or storms that form should be pretty isolated. Most communities will be dry, and afternoon temperatures should reach the upper 80s. Nights won't be as cool as low level moisture continues to rise across Alabama.
NEXT WEEK: The 12Z GFS continues the trend of pushing the best chance of rain toward the end of the week. Looks like any showers on Monday and Tuesday will be widely spaced. A cold front slips in here by late Thursday and Friday, and becomes stationary, which hopefully will bring some beneficial rain to the state in about a week or so.
FLORENCE: The system has been handled very well by all of the global models, it still looks like Florence will remain east of the Atlantic coast next week as it recurves into the open Atlantic. Still might be a close call for Nova Scotia in about 6 to 7 days. Florence is having some problems with dry air and shear, but it still has a good chance of becoming a significant hurricane in coming days over the open Atlantic.
ELSEWHERE: Florence has a very large circulation is is taking much of the central Atlantic; elsewhere the tropics are fairly quiet.
I sure enjoyed seeing the big crowd out at Glenwood today; I spoke with students from the Allan Cott and Lakeview schools today; look for them on ABC 33/40 news at 5:00. Glenwood, Inc. is a non profit organization, incorporated in 1973 for the purpose of educating and treating children, adolescents, and adults who are emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, and those diagnosed with autism. For more than 30 years, Glenwood has been devoted to helping individuals reach their full potential and be productive members of society. It is a great ministry and I always enjoy coming out to visit.
I will have the next map discussion video posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow... have a great evening!