Another Blistering Afternoon
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HEAT BUBBLE HANGS AROUND: The GFS is printing a high of 100 for Birmingham today, while the NAM is at 99. Not sure anybody could really tell the difference… one way or another the heat is on again today across Alabama, and the NWS continues a heat advisory for the possibility of heat index values around 105 at times. Like recent days, we will have a few storms around, but the ridge will keep those thunderstorms this afternoon widely scattered.
RECORD HEAT? Not really; we note the record high for today in Birmingham is 105 set in 1952, and we probably won’t get close to that. The 1950s and the 1930s offered very summers for our state; our hottest July temperature on record is 107, set on July 29, 1930.
THE WEEKEND: Temperatures tomorrow won’t change much, with highs in the 97 to 100 degree range and only isolated storms. But, the heat should back off a few degrees Sunday with highs back in the mid 90s. The deepest moisture from Tropical Storm Bonnie will be west of Alabama, but we will be on the moist east side of the system, so the radar should be a little more active by Sunday afternoon with some risk of scattered showers and storms.
NEXT WEEK: Hot, muggy mid-summer weather continues next week with highs mostly in the mid 90s each day along with the risk of an afternoon storm in scattered spots. The upper ridge will prevent any really widespread rain from forming; the best you can do is catching one of the cooling afternoon storms for a little temporary relief.
BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN: Tropical storm Bonnie will move across South Florida this morning, then emerging into the Gulf tonight. The system is not very well organized, with peak winds of around 40 mph. Shear aloft over the Gulf of Mexico means conditions aren’t favorable for any serious strengthening, and Bonnie is expected to make landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River as a tropical storm early Sunday morning. Heavy rain is the main threat from Bonnie, and the deeper moisture will remain over Louisiana and Arkansas Sunday and early next week. For now this doesn’t look like it will impact the oil spill in the northern Gulf in a major way; if anything it will help disperse the oil.
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