Midday Nowcast: Heat Advisory and Strong Storms

HOT AND HUMID: We have some very typical weather ahead for Alabama the rest of this week. Expect partly sunny, hot, humid days and the risk of some afternoon showers and storms. Storms will be more widely scattered in nature as the upper ridge builds across the Deep South, but where they form they could be strong as BIG HEAT MEANS BIG STORMS…Strong winds and frequent lightning at the main threats with summer storms.

We note the SPC has defined a “marginal risk” of severe thunderstorms today and tonight for parts of North and East Alabama as a complex of storms drops south out of the Ohio Valley. Additionally, summer storms produce torrential, tropical downpours, which lead to areas of isolated flash flooding. Finally, we will mention Heat Advisories have been issued for much of the state as the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will cause heat index values to surge into the danger range. We are likely to see additional advisories the rest of this week and through the weekend.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For July 30th, the average high for Birmingham is 91° and the average low is 73°. The record high is 101° set in 1986, while the record low is 57° set in 2014. We average 0.16” of precipitation on this date, and the record value is 2.33” set in 1984.

WEEKEND WEATHER: Not much change for the weekend; classic August weather. Partly sunny days, the chance of a pop-up afternoon storm in spots, and highs in the mid 90s. The pattern looks to continue into next week as well.

DEBBY, IS THAT YOU?: A large tropical wave centered several hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles is producing limited shower activity due to environmental dry air. Conditions are forecast to become a little more conducive for development over the warmer waters of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, and a tropical depression could form late this week while the system is in the vicinity of the Greater Antilles or the Bahamas. Interests in the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and the southeastern U.S. should monitor the progress of this system. Formation chance through 7 days…medium…60 percent.

BEACH FORECAST CENTER: Numerous showers and storms are the beaches with high in the mid 80s. PLEASE pay attention to the Rip Current Flag System at each beach. 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 119.5F at Badrah, Iraq. The lowest observation was -86.1F at Dome C, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 115F at Death Valley, CA. The lowest observation was 30F at Peter Sinks, UT.

Tags: ANC, featured, hot, humid, scattered storms

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS