WVUA-TV Weather Blog

I hope you are having a great Sunday! Today, we finally saw some good rainfall totals. It was not enough to get us back to our average totals, but the moderate rain certainly helped. Tuscaloosa received 0.54”, but Mobile saw 2.54”. South and east Alabama got to see the better totals, where northwest Alabama didn’t see any. This system has moved out of our area, but things will quickly change over the next 48 hours.

Tomorrow will be a gorgeous day, with lots of sunshine; highs will be in the middle 60s. You can also expect a south wind. Our next front will be here early Tuesday morning, but with limited moisture, we won’t see much in the way of rainfall; we can’t rule out a sprinkle or two, but it shouldn’t amount to much. Colder air will work in from the northwest through out the day. We will reach our high during the morning hours, with temperatures dropping into the 40s by early afternoon. The temperatures really drop off by sunset; lows will be near 20 degrees by sunrise Wednesday morning. Many places will be in the teens. Despite the sunshine on Wednesday morning, it’s going to be very cold! Highs on Wednesday will be in the lower 40s. Northeast Alabama may see a few snowflakes late Tuesday into Wednesday.

Temperatures will slowly recover back into the 50s by Friday and 60s by the weekend. Also, there is a small chance of showers and storms by next Sunday. Be sure to tune in tonight at 10 p.m. for the latest look at your forecast.

Richard Scott
WVUA TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

Hope you’re having a safe weekend.  The weather today was a mix of sun and clouds… but those clouds will thicken tonight and we expect some rain showers to develop as well.  Temperatures won’t be too bad, with lows in the lower 40s.

Sunday morning, we should see more of those rain showers around the area.  I think most of the rain will taper off by lunchtime.  Highs will be in the upper 50s.

Sunday night, the clouds will break and we’ll enjoy lows in the middle 30s.

Monday, New Years Eve, will be very pleasant, with highs in the middle 60s under mostly sunny skies.

Looking ahead, a strong cold front will usher in some cold temperatures for the middle of next week.  Highs will stay int he 40s for a few days with lows in the lower 20s and upper teens around West Alabama.

I don’t see another chance for rain until next weekend.

Robert Stevenson/WVUA Weather

It was a busy day today in the weather center.  We had a couple of tornado warnings mid-morning in eastern Alabama, and then at about 2 in the afternoon, a tornado warning for portions of Bibb and Perry Counties.  Fortunately, there have been no reports of damage from the storms.  The rain has pretty much moved out of West Alabama as I write this.  There are a few light showers in Marengo County.   The tornado watch we had for our southeastern counties has been cancelled.

For tonight, look for mostly cloudy skies, with temperatures near 39.

Tomorrow, the clouds hang around, with maybe a few peaks of sunshine, with highs in the upper 50s.  As we go through the day tomorrow, rain chances begin to return, as the front that moved through Friday, lifts back to the north.  Saturday night, into Sunday through mid-day, looks to be the best time for rainfall.

Monday, New Years Eve, looks like we’ll see sunshine with pleasant temperatures in the lower 60s.

Tuesday, the first day of 2008, we get a push of much colder air… along with a few clouds… highs will only be near 50.

Lows the following couple of nights will be in the lower 20s!  Expect some teens in the usual colder spots of West Alabama.

Wednesday, we’ll stay in the 40s all day, after those frigid morning lows.

Temperatures look like they’ll moderate some by the end of next week.

If you’re heading to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, the kick-off temperature should be about 52 degrees with partly cloudy skies.

Robert Stevenson/WVUA Weather

There is a Tornado Watch until 6 p.m. for portions of the viewing area.  Details from the National Weather Service are below.

TORNADO WATCH
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1045 AM CST FRI DEC 28 2007

TORNADO WATCH 745 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CST FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
ALABAMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

AUTAUGA              BALDWIN             BARBOUR
BIBB                 BLOUNT              BULLOCK
BUTLER               CALHOUN             CHAMBERS
CHEROKEE             CHILTON             CHOCTAW
CLARKE               CLAY                CLEBURNE
CONECUH              COOSA               COVINGTON
CRENSHAW             DALLAS              ELMORE
ESCAMBIA             ETOWAH              HALE
JEFFERSON            LEE                 LOWNDES
MACON                MARENGO             MOBILE
MONROE               MONTGOMERY          PERRY
PIKE                 RANDOLPH            RUSSELL
SHELBY               ST. CLAIR           TALLADEGA
TALLAPOOSA           WASHINGTON          WILCOX

Robert Stevenson/WVUA Weather

Some of the latest data coming to us is showing the potential of some threatening weather for Friday. The main time frame is from around noon until the late evening hours. According to the Storm Prediction Center, there is the threat of isolated tornadoes, as there a lot of low level wind shear in place; this will help the storms that develop rotate. If things get out of hand, we will be sure to let you know about it. Also, make sure you have a reliable weather source for severe weather information throughout the day tomorrow, incase things get bad around here. As of this evening, we are under a slight risk for severe weather, and confidence is increasing on the potential of strong storms. Be sure to watch tonight at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. for full details on your forecast.

Richard Scott
WVUA TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

For today, you can expect sunshine to make a return by this afternoon. Highs will be near 60 degrees. Tonight, lows will drop into the mid 40s, with increasing clouds; also, we have a small chance of rain late tonight. Tomorrow is the better chance of rain, with an 80 % chance of rain and storms. The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of Alabama under a slight risk for severe weather, so make sure you have a reliable weather source tomorrow. It looks like we may see a few strong storms tomorrow afternoon. The rain chance continues through Saturday and Sunday, with a 30-40% chance of rain; highs will be near 60 degrees, with lots of clouds around. Things will really begin to change by Monday into Tuesday. A sharp cold front will work in here by Monday night, dropping highs back into the lower 50s by Tuesday, but even colder air filters in by Wednesday, with highs near 40 degrees. It looks like a cold start to 2008, with temperatures struggling to reach the 40s. Overnight lows Tuesday and Wednesday nights will be in the lower 20s. These temperatures may actually be too warm, as some of the latest data is showing even colder air arriving. Be sure to join us tonight at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. for the latest look at your forecast.

Richard Scott
WVUA TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

After the morning fog lifts out, you can expect a return of sunshine by the noon time hour. But, by this evening, I believe that we will be dealing with more clouds streaming in; this will all be ahead of our next system. We are under a very progressive pattern, with periods of rain and dry weather. Tonight, showers will become widespread; in-fact, as I type this discussion, there is a large area of rain developing over western Louisiana. All of that will spread in here shortly after dark. Earlier this morning, there was even a mix of precipitation over southern Arkansas; I don’t imagine much of that is reaching the ground. No worries of winter weather here, as temperatures are expected to stay well above freezing. By tomorrow, that system will be long gone, and here comes another one. Our second storm system will be here by Friday, when we could even deal with some strong to severe storms; highs will reach the middle 60s, with an 80% chance of rain and storms. We are going to have to keep a close eye on certain severe weather parameters to see if strong storms will be much of a threat. We will keep you posted on that!

There is not much cooler air behind Friday’s rainmaker, as highs will cool off into the lower 60s by Saturday, but we will continue a small chance of a shower in our forecast. There is a better chance of rain and storms for Sunday. Once that one leaves town, you can expect much colder weather to follow behind. Highs on Tuesday will drop into the low 50s, but by Wednesday, we may be dealing with the coldest air this season; highs will be in the low 40s. That forecasted high may actually be too warm, so be sure to stay tuned as we fine tune our forecast on the artic air invasion by next Wednesday. Be sure to check us out on the television today at 11 a.m. and tonight at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. for the latest on your forecast. Have a great day!

Richard Scott
WVUA TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

A Merry Christmas to you! Today has turned out like a typical Christmas forecast, with cool temperatures and lots of clouds around. I’ve noticed that the Tuscaloosa airport has temperatures of 64 degrees; that is not correct, as the temperatures are in the 40s in most locations. I’m not sure why the airport is giving us a goofy number like that, but hopefully, the problem will be solved soon! For the rest of today, you can expect the upper-air low to be moving across the state. That will help generate a few sprinkles; in-fact, there was even some sleet reported in some areas this morning over east Alabama. I bet that was a surprise to wake up Christmas morning with sleet falling! That won’t amount to much as the temperatures are well above freezing. Tonight, lows will dip below freezing, with clearing skies. Wednesday, you can expect highs closer to 60 degrees, with a chance of showers by the late evening hours. The best chance of rain will come Wednesday night. Thursday looks dry at the moment, but here comes another storm system by Friday, with a good bet for rain and storms; highs will be back into the middle 60s and with some good warm air advection taking place, we will deal with the threat of strong storms. The Storm Prediction Center has much of West Alabama under a slight risk for severe weather for Friday, so be sure you have a reliable weather source for then. Also, we will be back in for a newscast tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., so be sure to join us then for a full look at your weather forecast.

Richard Scott
WVUA TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

I hope you are having a happy Christmas Eve! Today, we saw a few more clouds than expected. The upper air system made it in here a little early, and with more clouds today, the temperatures were cooler as well. Highs were near 50 degrees. Tomorrow, you can expect lots of clouds around to start off Christmas, but we will see more sunshine by the afternoon hours; highs tomorrow will be in the 50s. Tomorrow night, lows will be back in the freezing range, with lows around 30 degrees. Temperatures warm up by Wednesday, with highs in the lower 60s; there is also a chance of showers by the evening hours. That chance of rain will continue through Thursday and Friday, with highs in the low 60s; highs will warm into the middle 60s by next weekend, with the chance of rain in our forecast. This will continue to be the trend until Monday.

Looking ahead, there are signs of a major outbreak of colder weather to start off 2008. There is even the possibility of winter weather for the Deep South, so be sure to stay tuned for that. We will be back on the air Wednesday for a live newscast at 11 a.m., so be sure to check us out there.

Richard Scott
WVUA TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

I hope you are having a great Sunday! Today is the second official day of winter, and it certainly feels like winter outside. As I write this discussion, the temperatures are near freezing in some places. If you are going to be out tonight, be sure to bundle up because we are in for a hard freeze tonight; lows will be in the upper 20s. For Christmas Eve, the weather is going to be perfect, with lots of sunshine. I believe we will see some high and thin cirrus clouds by late tomorrow afternoon; this is ahead of an upper-air system that will be working in here on Tuesday. With very dry air in place, any rain that falls should be light, and the temperatures are expected to stay above freezing on Christmas, so no problems are expected.

Another system will march our way on Wednesday, giving us a 40% chance of rain; highs will be back into the low 60s, but we will be dealing with limited moisture, so we will just see a few showers around. We will dry out on Thursday, but here comes our next round of rain and storms on Friday. This looks like our best rain opportunity this week, so let’s all hope for some good rain totals to end 2007.

Next weekend, the active pattern continues, with several chances of rain and storms; highs over the weekend will warm into the low and middle 60s. Be sure to join us tonight at 10 p.m. for the latest on your forecast. We won’t have a newscast for Monday and Tuesday, but I will be back in on Wednesday morning for the news at midday. I hope you have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Richard Scott
WVUA TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor