James Spann: Alabama stays hot, humid with scattered thunderstorms
RADAR CHECK: Scattered showers and thunderstorms persist over the northern quarter of the state this afternoon, but central and south Alabama are dry with a partly to mostly sunny sky. Temperatures are mostly between 85 and 90 degrees; the average high for Birmingham on June 7 is 87. Storms over north Alabama will diminish after sunset.
For the rest of the week, very humid weather continues with some sun each day, along with the potential for scattered showers and storms daily. Most of the storms (but not all of them) will come from about 2 until 10 p.m., and some could be strong. The Storm Prediction Center has put about the northern two-thirds of Alabama in a slight risk (level 2 of 5) Wednesday for the potential of hail and strong winds (no tornado threat).
Coverage of the showers and storms will vary daily; the chance of any one spot getting wet is 50-60% Wednesday, 15-25% Thursday and 25-35% Friday. Highs will remain mostly in the upper 80s, very close to seasonal averages.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: We will go with a persistence forecast for the weekend — partly sunny, humid days with scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. Highs will be between 86 and 90 degrees both days. Very routine June weather for Alabama.
NEXT WEEK: We continue to see evidence the upper ridge over the region will be stronger, meaning rising heat levels and fewer showers and storms during the afternoons. Highs will likely exceed 90 degrees on most days, possibly reaching the mid 90s by midweek.
TROPICS: The Atlantic basin is quiet and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.
ON THIS DATE IN 1816: The following is found on page 31 of the book “History of the American Clock Business for the Past Sixty Years, and Life of Chauncey Jerome,” written by Chauncey Jerome and published in 1860. “The next summer was a cold one of 1816, which none of the old people will ever forget, and which many of the young have heard a great deal about. There was ice and snow in every month of the year. I well remember on the seventh of June, while on my way to work, about a mile from home, dressed throughout with thick woolen clothes and an overcoat on, my hands got so cold that I was obliged to lay down my tools and put on a pair of mittens which I had in my pocket. It snowed about an hour that day.” This bitter cold event occurred in Plymouth, Connecticut.
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