Hot Afternoons Ahead; A Few Spotty Weekend Showers/Storms

SUNNY MAY DAY AHEAD: With a mostly sunny sky, we project a high in the 87-91 degree range for most communities this afternoon. Highs will stay very close to 90 degrees for the rest of the week and through the holiday weekend as our summer preview continues.

The weather will stay dry tomorrow, but we will bring in the chance of a few scattered showers and storms over the Tennessee Valley of far North Alabama Thursday and Friday with a weak front approaching from the north. The southern 2/3 of the state will stay rain-free with a partly to mostly sunny sky.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: Most of the holiday weekend will be dry with hot afternoons. However, we will mention the chance of “scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms” each day over the northern half of the state. This is what we expect most every summer day; the showers and storms that form will be random, and will come mostly from 1:00 until 10:00 p.m. The chance of any one spot seeing a shower each afternoon will be in the 20-30 percent, with highest probabilities across the Tennessee Valley.

We should also mention a disturbance could bring a few strong storms to areas near the Tennessee state line Sunday.

NEXT WEEK: A cold front has the potential to bring an increase in the number of showers and storms Monday night into Tuesday, followed by a drier airmass Wednesday through Friday. Highs drop into the low to mid 80s over the latter half of the week, and cooler spots over North Alabama will dip into the 50s. An unusually refreshing airmass for the end of May… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

SEC BASEBALL: Dry weather is the story in Hoover for the SEC Baseball Tournament today, tomorrow, and Thursday with highs not far from 90 degrees. There is some risk of a pop-up afternoon or evening shower or storm Friday through Sunday, but odds of any one spot getting wet will be 25 percent or less. Highs remain near 90 degrees.

RAIN UPDATE: Here are rain totals so far this year, and the departure from average… most locations have a surplus; the exceptions are Birmingham and Anniston where rain totals are lower.

Montgomery 32.28″ (+11.10″)
Muscle Shoals 29.04″ (+6.65″)
Mobile 28.28″ (+3.67″)
Huntsville 25.49″ (+1.97″)
Dothan 24.93″ (+4.08″)
Tuscaloosa 23.76″ (+1.25″)
Birmingham 21.30″ (-2.61″)
Anniston 20.88 (-1.68″)

ON THIS DATE IN 1949: A tornado causing estimated F4 damage killed five people and injured 55 in St. Louis and St. Charles counties in Missouri and Madison County in Illinois.

ON THIS DATE IN 2001: Golfers participating in a golf tournament at the Majestic Golf Course in Hartland, Michigan received an urgent message on the G.P.S. on their carts. The message, relayed from the clubhouse, was that a tornado was bearing down on the course. Most of the golfers made it to safety in the clubhouse, although some had to take shelter on the course. Only one golfer suffered a minor injury. The F2 tornado damaged 70 cars in the parking lot along with numerous golf carts and a pontoon boat.

Look for the next video briefing here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!

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