Archive for December, 2009

Rainfall across the area continues to increase this afternoon as the low levels moisten up across the area.  Across the board this afternoon temps are in the upper 40′s and low 50′s area wide with many areas reporting light rainfall.  Some moderate/heavy rainfall is spreading northeast across southern Mississippi into western sections of Alabama this hour.  Rain will generally become a little heavier this evening into the overnight as the bulk of the shortwave moves across.

Another wave of energy will dive southward towards Texas tomorrow and attempt to spin up another little surface reflection late Thursday into early Friday.  At this point the main precip looks to stay southward as the colder air arrives, but a few flurries can’t be ruled out for the first day of the new year.  We will continue to monitor the progression of these systems as we head into a colder pattern. 

This image is from last evening with my daughter under the snow gun as the process was taking place. Looks like more snow making could be in order for late Saturday through the rest of the weekend.

Tonight…moisture is increasing as a shortwave trough to the west is beginning to set off some rain/sleet on the radar screens across the deep south this evening. Most of this precipitation is not reaching the ground, but a few pockets of sleet have been reported primarily around the Jackson, MS metro area. This will continue to move eastward and may evaporate as it traverses the region until the column aloft can moisten up.

Anyway, don’t be surprised if you see a few ice pellets tonight as your journey out. Rainfall will increase tomorrow especially across southern sections of Alabama. Rainfall amounts north of I-20 should be fairly light with the wave passing by later tomorrow night.

Colder weather will arrive this weekend with some of the coldest air of the season on tap by next week. Get those heaters ready!

A large storm system is spinning up to our west this evening with tornado watches and warnings in place across parts of Texas. A surface low pressure system is developing across portions of Central Texas and will deepen as it move NNE toward the middle Mississippi Valley area. An area of high pressure to the east will cause a wedging effect with Alabama being in the squeeze play. The isobars will rapidly begin to pack across the area resulting in extremely windy conditions beginning late tonight through the day tomorrow and tomorrow night. Non-thunderstorm wind gusts of 50+ mph during the daytime hours.

A squall line will race across the state tomorrow evening into the early overnight on Christmas Eve. We will have to monitor these showers/isolated storms for the potential for some damaging wind gusts of near 70 mph as a low level jet cranks up. Colder air is on the way following this system….with highs in the low-mid 40′s and lows in the 20′s. Merry Christmas and we’ll keep you updated on this major storm system..