James Spann: Hot, dry weather continues across Alabama

James Spann forecasts a hot week for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
MAY HEAT: On Sunday, many cities experienced 90 degrees for the first time this year, including Birmingham, Huntsville and Montgomery. The weather won’t change much today through Wednesday — mostly sunny, hot days and fair nights. Afternoon highs will be generally between 90 and 93 degrees; the average high for Birmingham on May 24 is 84.
The upper high responsible for the hot, dry weather will break down a bit later in the week, and we will introduce the chance of isolated showers or storms during the afternoon and evening hours over the northern half of the state. Nothing widespread, and most places will stay dry due to the isolated nature of the showers. Highs Thursday and Friday afternoon will be between 88 and 92 degrees.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: We are forecasting a partly sunny sky Saturday and Sunday, and again we will mention widely scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. The chance of any one spot getting wet both days will be 20-25% and highs will be generally in the upper 80s.
NEXT WEEK: The American global model (the GFS) is advertising a pattern change, with the ridge shifting to the western U.S.; this could give us a good chance of rain by midweek with cooler temperatures. But the reliable European global model (ECMWF) keeps the ridge over southern states, and most likely that is the correct solution. So we will go with a persistence forecast next week with partly sunny days and only isolated or widely scattered afternoon showers. Highs will be in the upper 80s most days.
SUNDAY’S HEAT: Here are some highs across Alabama Sunday:
- Mobile — 87
- Hueytown — 88
- Oneonta — 89
- Coker — 89
- Parrish — 89
- Huntsville — 90
- Anniston — 90
- Gadsden — 90
- Birmingham — 90
- Haleyville — 90
- Clanton — 90
- Dothan — 90
- West Blocton — 90
- Cedar Bluff — 90
- Lay Lake — 90
- Muscle Shoals — 91
- Eufaula — 91
- Tuscaloosa — 91
- Troy — 92
- Pell City — 92
- Weaver — 93
ON THIS DATE IN 1973: An F4 tornado tore through the small town of Union City, Oklahoma, killing two and injuring four others. This tornado was the first storm to be studied in detail by the National Severe Storms Laboratory Doppler Radar Unit at Norman, Oklahoma, and an armada of researchers in the field. Research of the radar data from the storm would lead to the discovery of a Tornado Vortex Signature (TVS).
ON THIS DATE IN 2011: A tornado outbreak occurred over parts of northern and central Oklahoma, with violent tornadoes devastating several communities. By the end of the day, one EF-5, two EF-4 and two EF-3 tornadoes destroyed buildings, ripped up trees and power poles and, unfortunately, resulted in 11 deaths and 293 injuries.
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