A Nearly Perfect Day!

A gorgeous day is in progress across Central Alabama. With lots of sunshine, a stiff easterly breeze and low humidities, it feels good outside. But if you look at your plants, they are showing the signs of recent dryness.

CALL TO THE RAINFALL DEPARTMENT: A check with our pal over in the Rainfall Department reveals that we have fallen way behind over the past 30 days, running nearly 1.5 inches behind normal at Birmingham. We are still in great shape over the past 90 days, running some 6 inches above normal. Over the past 365 days, we are about 8 inches above normal.

DROUGHTWATCH: No part of Alabama is in drought at this time. But don’t tell your fall flowers that. Almost all of central Alabama is now very thirsty and needs 1.5 to 2 inches of rain in the garden according to Dr. John Christy’s Lawn and Garden Moisture Index.

PERFECT WEATHER WARNING: The Central Alabama Perfect Weather Index is fairly high on this first October Sunday. With lots of sunshine, just a few high clouds, high temperatures in the upper 70s to near 80F, dewpoints in the 40s and 50s and a fresh easterly wind of 7-14 mph with occasional higher gusts, it will be a great day to get outside.

ON THE WEATHER MAPS: Across the U.S., we have a big trough over the Rockies and a ridge over the southeastern part of the country. The trough over the Rockies is going to produce a round of severe weather today across the Plains, with the main impact across Nebraska and northwestern Kansas. Hail will be the biggest threat, with damaging winds and a small tornado threat as well. A big surface high-pressure system is centered over Pennsylvania and New York. This high will flex its muscles over the next couple of days and become stronger. Drier air is spreading into Alabama from the east today, giving us the mostly sunny conditions. But as the high slides southward a bit, easterly winds will flow around the southern end of the Appalachians setting up the dreaded easterly…

…WEDGIE!! Clouds will spread northwestward around the southern periphery of the high tonight and Monday, as higher precipitable water to the south is tapped by the flow. Clouds will increase overnight and skies should be mostly cloudy on Monday. A few light showers might show up on the radar, especially over South Alabama. Highs tomorrow will be limited to the upper 70s. You will notice the breeze on Monday again, like this morning as the gradient to the south of the strengthening high tightens.

REST OF THE WEEK: The balance of the week will be warm and dry, with highs in the 80s and lows in the lower and middle 60s.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS