Tuesday Afternoon Forecast Discussion 4:09 PM

The break in the humid weather sure is nice, but it is still very hot out there. The dry and arid weather has created dangerous burn conditions. Red flag warnings are in place and you are encouraged to avoid burning over the next 12-24 hours. I noticed some rainfall activity about 170 miles northwest of our area, near Memphis. There were thunderstorms developing in response to another front. Tonight this front will drop through our area and tomorrow we will have another hot day, with a dry northwest breeze developing. The sky should be clear for our area tonight, with ample sunshine tomorrow. We will enjoy another tranquil period tomorrow night, with lows near 60 degrees. Also, more bright sunshine can be expected on Thursday and Friday, with highs in the 90s.

The surface front will stall to our south and eventually lift northward by Friday afternoon. This will bring a return to the humid and muggy weather, with the chance for a shower or thunderstorm. Classic July weather can be expected for the 4th of July. We will have a partly cloudy sky, with some scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon and early evening. By Sunday there is a chance some additional energy will help spark a better coverage of scattered thunderstorms. The main window for the rain will be during the afternoon and early evening hours.

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Wes Wyatt
Chief Meteorologist

Monday Afternoon Weather Discussion 5:07 PM

I just returned from a nice week long vacation and I’m sure you may be getting geared up for the big upcoming holiday weekend. The weather around here has finally undergone some subtle changes thanks to the passage of a rare summertime front. This boundary has cleared our area and now lower dewpoints are migrating in on a pleasant northwest wind. It is feeling hot out there however, it doesn’t feel nearly as humid and oppressive. This change will be more noticeable tonight, as lows will be dropping into the 60s. Tomorrow and Wednesday will also be days with less humid air in place. An amplified upper air pattern will allow another front to drop in late Wednesday, but this will be a dry frontal passage. This will send a reinforcing shot of less humid air, making for more dry weather through the middle of the week. We could use a little rain around here and unfortunately many locations stayed dry yesterday. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain was measured at the Tuscaloosa Airport.

Moist air will begin a slow return northward starting on Friday and we could have a shower or thunderstorm in the vicinity Friday afternoon. Much like the past 3-4 years, the threat for a shower or thunderstorm will return late on Saturday, but the activity should dwindle just in time for fireworks. A more benign weather setup will persist on Sunday and Monday, with partly cloudy skies and scattered afternoon thunderstorms. At this time there are no tropical weather concerns. In fact, we will have a beach forecast posted on the weather blog soon. Have a great evening!
Wes Wyatt
WVUA Chief Meteorologist

Fourth of July Travel Forecast

Here is your July fourth weekend travel forecast.   For those of you heading to the Gulf Shores and Mobile area this weekend you can expect partly to mostly cloudy skies Friday through Sunday.   There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms each day; but overall it looks like a gorgeous weekend on the coast with highs ranging from the upper 80′s to low 90′s.   Through the night time hours you can expect lows in the upper 70′s.   As far as the water temperature goes, you can expect the water to be around 88 degrees.

If your heading to Panama City this weekend you can expect partly cloudy skies with highs in the low 90′s.   In the evening you can expect lows around 80 degrees.   For Friday and Saturday there is about a 30 percent chance of rain with only an isolated chance of a shower in the evening hours.   On Sunday rain chances will increase to around 40 percent.   The water temperature for this area will be around 87 degrees.  

In Destin this weekend you can expect partly cloudy skies each day with highs in the upper 80′s.   In the evening you can expect lows in the upper 70′s.   There is an isolated chance of a shower or thunderstorm each day.   In Destin this weekend the water temperature will be about 89 degrees.  

 So get the grill out this weekend and shoot off some fireworks.   Hope you all have a great Fourth of July weekend and Be Safe wherever your travels take you.

Zac Sewell
WVUA Weather

Coping With Extreme Heat

As you can imagine the summer heat can grow quite extreme from time to time. Last week was a classic example as heat index values soared above the century mark. Temperatures locally soared into the middle 90s while heat index values soared above 100.

Conditions were more extreme for areas to our south and along Florida and Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Last Monday, on June 22, one fatality was reported in Dothan as a result of the hot weather. In southeast Alabama the average temperature in late June is 91 degrees. Dothan actually reached a temperature of 100 degrees on multiple days, prompting state health officials to warn Alabamians to take precautions during the hot summer months ahead. In Gulfport, MS officials opened a “heat shelter” for elderly citizens.

Tips for avoiding heat related injuries includes staying hydrated, wearing light colored clothing, avoiding caffeine/alcohol, and staying indoors. Also, children and pets should never be left in a closed, parked vehicle. Sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher should be applied liberally and used when exposed to the sun. Keep these tips in mind as the upcoming holiday weekend approaches.

Cecilia Reeves
WVUA Weather

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Bibb County Until 5:30 PM

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
  EAST CENTRAL BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
  CENTRAL CHILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF JEMISON…

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 448 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETECTED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60
  MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ASHBY…OR 7 MILES WEST OF
  JEMISON…AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…
  JEMISON…THORSBY…6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UNION GROVE AND 6 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF CHILTON COUNTY MOTOR SPORTS PARK BY 530 PM CDT…

THIS INCLUDES…
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBER 219

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH…PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS…DESTRUCTIVE HAIL…AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER…
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR ALABAMA.

WVUA-TV’s Richard Scott

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Tuscaloosa and Jefferson Counties Until 4:45 pm

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
358 PM CDT SUN JUN 28 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
  SOUTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
  EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 445 PM CDT

* AT 357 PM CDT…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETECTED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60
  MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ABERNANT…OR 15 MILES SOUTHWEST
  OF HUEYTOWN…AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…
  ABERNANT AND LAKE VIEW BY 445 PM CDT…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH…PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS…DESTRUCTIVE HAIL…AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER…
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR ALABAMA.

&&

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

WVUA-TV’s Richard Scott

Sunday Afternoon Weather Discussion – 1:03 p.m.

A good Sunday to you! Active severe weather is possible this afternoon across all of the WVUA-TV coverage area. The main threat is large hail and damaging winds. There is a severe thunderstorm watch for all of our counties until 8 p.m. The statement is below this blog post. A late season cold front is on the way, and will bring us less humid weather tomorrow. Temperatures will respond slightly with this front, as highs are expected to top out in the lower 90s and lows in the middle 60s.

We’ll deal with a good chance of rain and storms during the evening hours and overnight tonight. Once the front moves through, dry air pushes in behind it. Skies will become sunny on Monday, with a northwest breeze. Sunny weather will continue through Thursday, with temperatures warming into the middle 90s on Thursday. As moisture increases, we’ll get back into a humid pattern, with afternoon storms back in the forecast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

If you have plans for the Independence Day weekend, the morning will be rain-free, but we’ll see scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. One thing to keep an eye on is for a complex of storms to come through at some point over the weekend. We’ll be underneath a northwest flow aloft, which is favorable for that setup. Be sure to keep an eye on our weather blog page and live newscasts for more details on your forecast over the next few days. Our next newscast will be on WVUA-TV tonight at 10 p.m.

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Have a great day!

Richard Scott
WVUA-TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 8 PM

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 530 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

ALABAMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

AUTAUGA              BARBOUR             BIBB
BLOUNT               BULLOCK             CALHOUN
CHAMBERS             CHEROKEE            CHILTON
CLAY                 CLEBURNE            COLBERT
COOSA                CULLMAN             DALLAS
DEKALB               ELMORE              ETOWAH
FAYETTE              FRANKLIN            GREENE
HALE                 JACKSON             JEFFERSON
LAMAR                LAUDERDALE          LAWRENCE
LEE                  LIMESTONE           LOWNDES
MACON                MADISON             MARENGO
MARION               MARSHALL            MONTGOMERY
MORGAN               PERRY               PICKENS
PIKE                 RANDOLPH            RUSSELL
SHELBY               ST. CLAIR           SUMTER
TALLADEGA            TALLAPOOSA          TUSCALOOSA
WALKER               WINSTON

WVUA-TV’s Richard Scott

Saturday Afternoon Weather Discussion – 5:25 p.m.

A good Saturday to you! Another hot and humid day was experienced across Alabama, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees in places. Heat index values were in the 105 to 110 degree range during the peak heating. There are some thunderstorms over southern Tennessee and north Alabama. These storms are drifting southward, and could move into our northern counties before dissipating. Don’t expect a washout today, but a storm or two is possible. Temperatures will gradually cool down into the upper 70s at midnight. After lows in the lower 70s tonight, temperatures will quickly rebound into the upper 90s to 100 degree range. Take it extra easy if you have outdoor plans because it will be dangerously hot. Heat index values will top out near 107.

A cold front is on the way, which will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday night into Monday morning. Skies will gradually clear out Monday, with much lower humidity values moving in. The dry, continental air will certainly serve as a break from the humid weather. Temperatures will stay in the lower 90s for the early and middle of next week. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings will be rather pleasant, with lows in the middle to upper 60s. Dry weather will continue through Thursday, before showers and thunderstorms move in on Friday and Saturday. Temperatures will remain in the lower 90s.

The tropics have become interesting, with an area of low pressure developing in the western Caribbean. The disturbance will move into the Gulf of Mexico later tonight. The environment is becoming more favorable for development, and the water temperatures are very warm in the southern gulf. There’s a good chance that we will be dealing with a tropical depression of storm in the next 24 to 48 hours. The big question then turns to the track and intensity. Some models turn it northeastward in advance of our eastern US trough. Other models nearly stall it in the central gulf, which would make for more uncertainties. Be sure to keep it here with WVUA as we let you know the latest developments on the tropics. Also, join me tonight at 10 p.m. for your weather forecast on WVUA-TV.

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Have a great day!

Richard Scott
WVUA-TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor

Friday Afternoon Weather Discussion – 4:05 p.m.

Humidity values begin to increases today, as moisture returns from the gulf. With higher humidity, our heat index values have reached the triple digits. A few showers have formed along a boundary that is lifting northward through the state. This boundary is separating the really moist air to the south from drier air to the north. Other than a few showers and thunderstorms, our rainfall chances will diminish after sunset. Skies will clear out tonight, as low approach the lower 70s. On Saturday, we’ll have a similar setup to today, with afternoon storms possible. Heat index values will approach the 105.

A cold front will move in Sunday night or early on Monday; this will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms, but the rainfall chance will be lower due to the timing of the front. The only real difference will be the overnight lows and humidity. You’ll really notice the lower humidity values on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lows will approach the upper 60s. It’s rare to get a cold front into Alabama this time of the year, but all computer models indicate that it will make it all the way through the state. Temperatures will top out in the lower 90s, with lots of sun Tuesday through Thursday.

All eyes are on the tropics now, as we have a disturbance developing in the Caribbean. The water temperatures are very warm, and upper-air winds are favorable for development. This system will move into the northern Yucatan Peninsula tomorrow morning and move into the southern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. All of our tropical models develop it into a tropical storm, so we’ll be keeping a close eye to our south over the weekend, so be sure to stay with us for the latest. I’m filling in for Wes today at 5, 6 and 10 on WVUA-TV.

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Have a great day!

Richard Scott
WVUA-TV’s Weekend Weather Anchor