Weekend Air Show/Hurricane Hunter

I wanted to share this bit of information I collected from the Tuscaloosa Air Show Website:

The WC130-J Hurricane Hunter aircraft will be a part of this weekends show. The aircraft provides vital tropical cyclone forecasting information by penetrating tropical cyclones and hurricanes at altitudes ranging from 500-10,000 ft above the ocean surface, depending upon the intensity of the storm. The aircraft’s most important function is to collect high-density, high-accuracy weather data from within the storm’s environment. This includes penetration of the center or hurricane eye of the storm. This vital information is instantly relayed by satellite to the National Hurricane Center to aid in the accurate forecasting of hurricane movement and intensity.

Be sure to check out tuscaloosaairshow.com for all of the details regarding the air show. Also, tune in to 103.3 FM and WVUA-TV for local news coverage of this weekends event!

Wes Wyatt
Chief Meteorologist

Forecast Discussion 5/6 4:21 PM

The Blue Angels have arrived in Tuscaloosa! It took me a while to put together a forecast in the weather center this afternoon because we have a great view of their practice via our tower camera. I am going to try to snap you a picture for the weather blog. The visibility is great in Tuscaloosa and the weather should hopefully cooperate this weekend. At this time it feels like 90 degrees in Tuscaloosa and tonight we will have lows in the 60s.

Winds will pick-up tomorrow as a cold front approaches the state. We will have a south wind and this will also be a factor along the Gulf coast regarding the movement of the oil. The winds over our area will shift late tomorrow night as the cold front moves through our area. This system won’t have much precipitation associated with it; however, a shower or thunderstorm will be possible late tomorrow night and early on Saturday.

We will have some clearing late on Saturday as drier air moves into the state. Temperatures won’t be quite as bad, with highs in the 70s. This should make for even better weather conditions for any outdoor event. We will experience quite a cool down to near 50 degrees Saturday night, with more 70 degree temperatures on Sunday. Warmer-moist air will begin to surge northward again late Sunday and some isolated showers and storms may break out over our area on Monday. The upper air environment should prevent rain on Tuesday and Wednesday and it is going to feel hotter, with highs back in the middle to upper 80s. We will have a partly cloudy sky on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Have a great evening!

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Wes Wyatt
Chief Meteorologist