Midday Nowcast: Hotter Days on the Way

Greetings from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where I am attending the 51st Conference on Broadcast Meteorology and Seventh Conference on Weather Warnings and Communication. So far the conference has been a huge success as I continue to learn more and more about my field of study. Great topics already covered are the 35th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo hitting South Carolina, Atmospheric Rivers, and satellite detection of wildfires. Stay tuned for more detail in the coming days.

CODE ORANGE OZONE ALERT: The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, ADEM, has issued an Air Quality Alert for Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Under Code Orange conditions, ground level ozone concentrations are expected to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children and people with asthma are individuals most at risk under these expected conditions.

Hot and mainly dry weather the rest of this week across Alabama with generally sunny conditions. Expect humidity levels to begin to rise and that will cause heat index values to climb as well. Highs in the low to mid 90s will lead to heat index values closer to 100° for much of Alabama.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For June 12th, the average high for Birmingham is 88° and the average low is 68°. The record high is 99° set in 1977, while the record low is 53° set in 1980. We average 0.16” of precipitation on this date, and the record value is 1.84” set in 1942.

ACROSS THE USA: Heavy to excessive rainfall will continue across central and southern Florida over the next several days. Excessive rainfall may lead to flash and urban flooding. Scattered severe thunderstorms capable of producing severe hail, wind and tornadoes will be possible in the Upper Midwest today. Excessive heat will continue to expand across the west and southwest through Thursday.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Much of North and Central Alabama will likely stay dry with only very isolated showers Saturday and Sunday; showers are more likely over the far southern part of the state and along the Gulf Coast, but the weekend won’t be a wash-out there. It should be the hottest weekend so far this year with highs in the mid 90s thanks to a heat ridge overhead. Some communities could reach the upper 90s. The pattern continues to look relatively dry for the following week with only widely scattered showers and storms around; highs will be in the low to mid 90s on most days.

NEXT WEEK: We will maintain the chance of a few showers on a daily basis through the week, but the deepest moisture will likely be west of Alabama. Rain amounts will be light and spotty; the higher rain coverage will be over the southern counties, but even there no wash-out. Heat levels drop with highs in the upper 80s and low 90s through the week.

IN THE TROPICS: Two areas the National Hurricane Center is monitoring:

1. Florida Peninsula and Offshore Southeast U.S. (AL90): An elongated area of low pressure over the Florida peninsula is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Although upper-level winds are expected to be only marginally conducive, some slow development is possible while the system moves northeastward offshore of the U.S. Southeast coast tonight through late week. Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is forecast to continue across portions of the Florida peninsula during the next few days. Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent.

2. Southwestern Gulf of Mexico: A broad area of low pressure could form over the weekend across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some slow development early next week while the system moves slowly westward or west-northwestward. Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent.

BEACH FORECAST CENTER: Get the latest weather and rip current forecasts for the beaches from Fort Morgan to Panama City on our Beach Forecast Center page. There, you can select the forecast of the region that you are interested in visiting.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 119.8F at Rhoud Nouss, Algeria. The lowest observation was -95.8F at Vostok, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 118F at Death Valley, CA. The lowest observation was 28F at Copper Basin, ID.

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