Latest Webcast From Wes Wyatt

Storms possible again on Friday.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Forecast Discussion Update 4:00 PM

HPC Projected Precipitation (QPF)

It has been a scorcher for much of the area today thanks to a better supply of sunshine. The 3:00 p.m. heat index in Tuscaloosa was a blistering 101 degrees. Now there are numerous showers and thunderstorms developing in the unsettled flow pattern. Some of the storms back over Mississippi are severe and there are borderline severe storms over Greene and Hale Counties. For the rest of today and tonight we will have a mostly cloudy sky with the threat for heavy rain and strong to severe thunderstorms. Flash Flood advisories may be required as the moist tropical air mass over Alabama gives way to some torrential scattered downpours.

I’ve already had a few calls about the weekend weather forecast and right now I don’t see huge changes in the current setup. We will have a partly to mostly cloudy sky tomorrow and if we manage to see a good period of sun like today, it’s going to be another hot one. At this time a vigorous disturbance is rotating into northern Mississippi. This feature will pull a boundary into the area tomorrow and this will bring another good chance for rain and storms by the afternoon.

On Saturday and Sunday the greatest concentration of rain will be focused to our north, although thunderstorms will be developing locally. We will have some sunny periods, with highs reaching the upper 80s. The heat index could easily reach the 100-degree mark. By Monday and Tuesday the data is depicting a surface high building in and this should bring drier conditions to the area, with afternoon storms not quite as numerous. There is no doubt this is a unique late July and early August weather setup for our region. NOAA has linked this weather pattern with a strengthening El Nino. I will be elaborating on this topic in the weeks ahead.

Some of the storms over the next 48 hours may grow severe and you can get live streaming severe weather coverage by clicking here during times of threatening weather.

The Dog Days of Summer: We’re entering the dog days of summer and we’re asking viewers to send in pictures of their dogs beating the heat. Last year we had so much fun with this and we want to do it again. We will begin showing pictures during our weather segments on Monday. Please send your pictures to: wxpics@wvuatv.com

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Wes Wyatt Chief Meteorologist