Tornado Warning

The National Weather Service issues Tornado Warning for Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Talladega [AL] till 7:00 PM CDT ...* AT 604 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A CONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR ALPINE...OR 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHILDERSBURG. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

Moderate Risk of Severe Weather Friday

The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of Central Alabama under a Moderate Risk of Severe Weather for Friday. Convective Outlook update placed most of central and western Alabama as well as eastern Mississippi in a *MODERATE* Risk of severe weather tomorrow. The most eye-catching statement in their discussion is this statement:

…TORNADO OUTBREAK BECOMING INCREASINGLY POSSIBLE ACROSS THE CNTRL GULF COAST STATES ON FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT…

What imbeciles are writing these temperature forecast?

Folks, it is not going to get to 60F today. Forecast from the NWS and local meteorologist have forecasted highs today in the upper 50's and up to 60F. At 10am CST the current temperatures in Central Alabama are in the low 40's. Cloud cover will remain in place throughout the day. It's not going to get that warm.

What idiots are publishing these temperature forecast? I would say that its time to get your head out of the computer models and look around you.

Yesterday we had a forecast high in the mid 50's. The high at my location was 41F.

Today's temperature forecast seems way off. I would keep your jacket with you today.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Calhoun/St. Clair

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... southern Calhoun County in east central Alabama... St. Clair County in central Alabama... northern Talladega County in east central Alabama until 400 PM CST. At 303 PM CST the National Weather Service indicated a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing Golf Ball size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. These storms were located along a line extending from Ashville to Barber motorsports park and moving east at 60 mph. Golf Ball size hail has been reported at several locations with these storms.
Locations impacted include... Pell City...Saks...fort McClellan...Jacksonville...west end-Cobb Town...Cobb Town...Anniston and Oxford. This includes...Interstate 20 exit numbers 144 through 188...Interstate 59 exit number 166.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect for the warned area. Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. Although not immediately likely...if a tornado is spotted...act quickly and move to a place of safety inside a sturdy structure...such as a basement or small interior room.

New Tornado Watch Issued

The National Weather Service has issued Tornado Watch 33 in effect until 7 PM CST this evening for the following areas.

In Alabama this watch includes 29 counties.
In central Alabama:
Autauga Bibb Blount Chilton Coosa Dallas Elmore Jefferson Lowndes Montgomery Perry Shelby St. Clair Talladega

In east central Alabama
Calhoun Chambers Clay Cleburne Lee Randolph Tallapoosa

In northeast Alabama
Cherokee Etowah

In west central Alabama
Greene Hale Marengo Pickens Sumter Tuscaloosa

Severe Weather Possible Today

You've undoubtably noticed the warm muggy feel of the air outside this morning. With an approaching storm system, dewpoints already in the 60's across Alabama, and strong southernly winds, the ingredients will be coming together for possible severe weather across the state.

At 9am CST, the first Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the state was issued for portions of Colbert and Lauderdale counties in Northwest Alabama.

Portions of Northwest Alabama are also under a Tornado Watch. I would expect that watch area to be extended into the central and eastern areas of Alabama later this morning.

The greatest risk of severe weather in Northeast Alabama will occur after lunch today.

Snowfall Potential Wednesday

As of the this morning, the NWS in Birmingham has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Wednesday into Thursday morning. At this point based on model data, probably a little overkill, but with any potential snowfall event in Alabama, expect surprises. I am inserting the snowfall potential graphic from the NWS and as think it frames up this storm's potential nicely.

Expect a dusting up to 2" across central Alabama with higher totals in the northern counties.

On a good note, after this storm system passes, expect a warming trend over the weekend. Can you say 60F by Sunday!

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
512 AM CST TUE FEB 8 2011

...ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.A STORM SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO WILL
BRING THE CHANCE OF SNOW TO MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA WEDNESDAY
EVENING AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. WHILE SOME UNCERTAINTY REMAINS
WITH REGARDS TO SPECIFIC SNOWFALL TOTALS...ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND
TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SNOWFALL WILL BEGIN LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...AND BEGIN ACCUMULATING BY EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON THURSDAY. TOTAL ACCUMULATION AROUND TWO INCHES IS EXPECTED...WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS GENERALLY NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR. AS SNOW INCREASES IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY...AND TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING...TRAVEL
CONDITIONS COULD BECOME HAZARDOUS. A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.