James Spann: Hot May weather continues in Alabama, with only isolated showers
RADAR CHECK: We actually have a few tiny, isolated showers over northeast Alabama this afternoon, but about 98% of Alabama is still hot and dry, with temperatures mostly in the low 90s. The sky will be mostly fair tonight with a low in the mid to upper 60s.
The weather won’t change much Wednesday and Thursday — partly sunny, hot days with isolated afternoon showers or storms over the northern half of the state. Odds of any one spot getting wet both days are about 1 in 5, and highs will be between 88 and 92 degrees.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: A weak surface front will bring a better coverage of scattered showers and storms to north and central Alabama Friday afternoon and evening, but even then it still won’t rain everywhere. Otherwise, expect a mix of sun and clouds Friday with a high in the mid to upper 80s. For Saturday, a few scattered showers are possible over the southern third of the state as the front continues to drift southward. Drier air will cover the northern half of the state. The sky will be mostly sunny Saturday with lower heat levels; expect a high in the low to mid 80s. On Sunday, expect a partly sunny sky with just a few isolated showers. Sunday’s high will remain between 80 and 85 degrees.
NEXT WEEK: We are still seeing model inconsistency in the upper-air pattern next week. For now we will go with a persistence forecast — partly sunny days with the usual opportunity for widely scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms each day. Highs will be generally in the mid to upper 80s.
SEC BASEBALL: The weather still looks pretty good for the SEC baseball tournament at the Hoover Met, which goes on through Sunday. An isolated afternoon shower or storm can’t be ruled out each day through Friday; odds of rain at the stadium will be only 10-20% Wednesday and Thursday and around 30% Friday. Odds of a shower Saturday and Sunday are less than 10%. Highs will be between 87 and 92 degrees through Friday and in the 80s over the weekend.
TROPICS: All is quiet across the Atlantic basin; the official start to the Atlantic hurricane season is one week from today.
ON THIS DATE IN 2008: A rare, large and destructive EF5 tornado created a 43-mile-long path across Butler and Black Hawk counties in Iowa. This tornado killed eight people, injured dozens and caused several million dollars in damage. The tornado was nearly three-quarters of a mile wide as it moved through the southern end of Parkersburg. A third of the town was affected by devastating damage, with nearly 200 homes destroyed.
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