Coolest Winter Since 2001 for U.S., Globe

The average temperature across both the contiguous U.S. and the globe during climatological winter (December 2007-February 2008) was the coolest since 2001, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. In terms of winter precipitation, Pacific storms, bringing heavy precipitation to large parts of the West, produced high snowpack that will provide welcome runoff this spring. Click here for the full report

Monday Afternoon Forecast Discussion

I hit the road early today and traveled to Holy Spirit to visit the Pre-K students. Talk about a fun group of kids! I want to thank Mrs. Ellett and Mrs. Sumner for inviting me over and I will have some visit video on our weather kid’s page soon.

We’ve had lots of mid level, altostratus type cloud cover today. These clouds have started to break allowing for a quick warm up into the lower 70s. Tonight the temperatures won’t be as chilly. The eastern wedge of air that brought cold conditions last night will be retreating. We will have the chance for some showers this evening as a dewpoint axis shifts into the state. Right now dewpoints are in the mid 70s in Greenwood, MS. Also, severe weather is impacting the Great Plains for the third day in a row. I’m expecting the core of the severe weather to shift northeast; however, a cold front associated with this system will drop in and bring us a good rain chance for tomorrow.

Highs tomorrow will be in the lower 70s, with the chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm. The storms will taper off from west to east tomorrow night, with a gradual return to sunny weather on Wednesday. Highs on Wednesday will be reaching the lower 70s, with lows in the 50s Wednesday night. The front will stall to our south and the weak boundary will lift northward, sparking isolated showers and thunderstorms on Thursday. Rain chances will go up again late Friday and Friday night as low pressure moves in from the west. It looks like we will dry out behind this system; however, the zonal upper air flow will likely lead to another rain opportunity around Tuesday/Wednesday of next week.

Wes Wyatt
Chief Meteorologist

Sunday Afternoon Weather Discussion

A good Sunday to you! The weather has turned out very nice today, with highs in the lower 70s. It has been an interesting temperature spread through the state today for two reasons. First, we dealt with more clouds over the northern half of the state; to our south, temperatures were in the lower 80s in Demopolis and Meridian. Also, we’ve had a wedge of cooler air move in from the east; that has kept the eastern half of the state in the 50s all day. With high pressure situated over the northeast, cooler air has been allowed to flow down the east side of the Appalachian Mountains. So, there has been quiet a variation of temperatures today from northeast to southwest. This will continue to be the case for the rest of today and tonight, but we will get back into a southerly flow by Monday afternoon. This will allow the return of moisture ahead of our next rainmaker on Tuesday. I’m calling for a 70% chance for rain and storms for Tuesday, but as some drier air works in from the north behind this system, we will dry out on Wednesday. A front will stall out over south Alabama, so we will keep a small chance of rain for areas south of Tuscaloosa. Much of north Alabama will remain dry, but some of our southern counties may see a shower or two Wednesday afternoon.

We will quickly get a return flow out of the south by Thursday and Friday, which will allow for plentiful moisture to creep back into the region. There is a 20% chance for afternoon showers on Thursday, but as we get another cold front in here on Friday, I have bumped the rain chance up to a 40%. There appears to be enough support to push the front on through here, so we will be in for a very nice weekend, with highs in the lower 70s. Be sure to join us tonight at 10 p.m. for the latest on your forecast.

Richard Scott
WVUA TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

Saturday Afternoon Weather Discussion

I hope you are having a great Saturday! The weather was perfect to be outdoors for much of the day; in-fact, I did a little bass fishing this morning. Other than the pollen in the air, it was very nice outside. Showers and storms really begin to fire up around 1 p.m., and some of those storms managed to grow severe. While I’m writing this discussion, there is a severe thunderstorm warning in place for Walker and Tuscaloosa Counties. This will all begin to dissipate after dark. Tomorrow, conditions will be very warm, but we won’t see the large coverage of showers and thunderstorms as we did today. I can’t rule out a stray storm of two but that will be about it. We will deal with a mix of sun and clouds, with highs in the middle 70s. Monday will be warmer, as highs approach 80 degrees, and there is a 20% chance of rainfall in the forecast but many places will stay dry.

A cold front is expected to move in here on Tuesday and wash out across the area. This will help to give us a more beneficial rainfall, with a 60% chance for rain and storms. This will move out of here by Wednesday but it will be very warm. Highs will continue to be in the 70s through next weekend, but we will get into more of a summer like pattern, with afternoon showers possible for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It’s not looking like a wash-out but a hit or miss shower can be expected. Be sure to join us tonight at 10 p.m. for the latest look at your forecast.

Richard Scott
WVUA Weather

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Walker County

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
  CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF JASPER…

* UNTIL 730 PM CDT

* AT 651 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR PARRISH…OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORDOVA…AND MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…
  JASPER AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GAMBLE BY 715 PM CDT…

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER…
CALL 1-800-856-0758.

WVUA TV’s Richard Scott

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Tuscaloosa and Walker Counties

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
  SOUTH CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
  NORTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 614 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR WHITSON…OR 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORDOVA…AND
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…
  8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF OAKMAN BY 625 PM CDT…
  GOODSPRINGS BY 640 PM CDT…
  GORGAS…GORGAS STEAM PLANT AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PARRISH BY 645
  PM CDT…

WVUA TV’s Richard Scott

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Tuscaloosa County

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
  NORTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 542 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WINDHAM
  SPRINGS…OR 14 MILES NORTH OF NORTHPORT…AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT
  15 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…
  WINDHAM SPRINGS AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW LEXINGTON BY 600 PM
  CDT…
  7 MILES WEST OF WHITSON BY 615 PM CDT…

WVUA TV’s Richard Scott

Friday Afternoon Forecast Discussion

We’ve had quite a few clouds overhead today and even some spotty showers and thunderstorms have popped up over the area. The good news is that we’re still enjoying some pleasant temperatures. The rain that we’ve seen today has been very scattered to isolated, and this activity will linger overnight. Also, there could be some patchy fog in areas that’s seen rain. Lows tonight will be in the 50s, with highs warming into the 70s for tomorrow. The chances for a shower or thunderstorm are looking good for tomorrow, so have the rain gear handy. Tomorrow’s rain event will continue to be more of a hit or miss type setup. With that said, a few passing showers or thunderstorms will be possible. Some of these scattered showers could produce some brief downpours. Tomorrow night the rainy weather will diminish in coverage with some patchy late night fog.

The sky will be partly cloudy for Sunday and Monday, with isolated thunderstorms possible. A front moving in will stall out and dissipate over the weekend. A moisture axis over the state could be just enough to spark some rainfall activity. By Tuesday as stronger storms system will move in and bring a good chance of rain and thunderstorms. That will be followed by drier conditions for next Wednesday and Thursday. Have a great weekend!

Wes Wyatt
WVUA Chief Meteorologist

Thursday Afternoon Forecast Discussion

Good Afternoon! Today was another wonderful day to get outdoors and the nice conditions will prevail through the remainder of the afternoon and evening. There will be a light southerly breeze, with temperatures falling into the upper 60s this evening. This would be another great time to maybe visit the River Walk, Bower’s Park, or even enjoy a nice walk on the quad. I guess Chamber of Commerce weather would be the more proper term.

The overall weather pattern has resembled more of a late spring setup. Temperatures have leveled off nicely and we should continue to see 70s in the days ahead. Tomorrow the sky will be partly cloudy, with the chance for a stray shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon. Today all of the unsettled weather has been along a stalled front to our north. This front was the focal point for rain and thunderstorms over portions of Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Low pressure tracking along this front will direct the front southward tomorrow and this will bring us a chance for rain. The greatest threat for rain tomorrow will be north of our area; however, a stray shower or storm could drop into the northern portions of the area late in the day. Tomorrow night and during the day on Saturday the front will stall out and this will serve to trigger more showers and thunderstorms. This activity will be on the scattered side, so there will be some sunny periods. I still think the main area of focus will be along and north of the I-20 corridor.

Partly cloudy conditions will be in place for Sunday and Monday, with warm temperatures. A southerly flow will redevelop and this coupled with the old frontal axis could trigger a stray shower or thunderstorm. The chance for rain will remain low during that this time frame. Our chance for rain will go up however, on Tuesday as a strong wave of low pressure pivots into the region. This will produce a good round of rain and thunderstorms late Tuesday and into Wednesday, followed by a few dry days. In the short term, some of the thunderstorms could strengthen to the severe level. We will keep you posted!

Wes Wyatt
WVUA Chief Meteorologist

The Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak

While the weather is warm and sunny today, that was not the case 14 years ago on this day. On Sunday March 27, 1994 a slow moving cold front was pushing through Alabama and a very unstable air mass was in place. We had dew points in the upper 60’s to lower 70’s and the wind shear was extreme. During the 24 hour period there were four rounds of severe weather that moved through the state, leaving behind reports of damage. The National Weather Service detected that six tornadoes touched down on that day. The biggest was an F4; it touched down in St. Claire County near the city of Ragland and dissipated after it crossed the Alabama/Georgia state line. This tornado killed 22 people alone. Most of those people were inside the Goshen United Methodist Church which is a mile north of the Cherokee and Calhoun county line. The people inside the church had no clue that the tornado warning had been issued nor did they see the tornado coming. Twenty people in the church were killed and 92 were injured. The sanctuary part of the church was the hardest hit area. You can find more information by clicking here!

(Text and Images Source:NWS)

Steven Ray
WVUA Weather