Archive for June 19th, 2010

A developing bow echo is moving across the area and is requiring the NWS in Birmingham to issue severe thunderstorm warnings for the entire area ahead of the line.  With our bow tracking overlay, you can see that this system will effect much of East-Central Alabama over the next hour as it begins to accelerate.  A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8PM CDT this evening for the entire area.  There could be some additional development following this line.  Well keep you posted.

A weather watch is now looking possible for portions of Central Alabama this afternoon as the environment is becoming very unstable with afternoon heating and sunshine.  The SPC will upgrade portions of the area to a convective slight risk on the 1630z update….or around 11:30am.  We will monitor the situation and keep you updated on the sitaution….the SPC text and statement of the MCD follows…

 AREAS AFFECTED...NRN MS...NRN AL...NWRN GA...ERN TN AND WRN NC

   CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE 

   VALID 191530Z - 191630Z

   THREAT FOR MAINLY ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND WILL EXIST THIS AFTERNOON
   WITH STORMS DEVELOPING FROM NRN MS THROUGH NRN AND CNTRL AL...NWRN
   GA...ERN TN AND WRN NC. THIS AREA IS BEING UPGRADED TO A SLIGHT
   RISK...AND A WW IS POSSIBLE DEPENDING ON CONVECTIVE TRENDS.

   AT MID-DAY AN EXPANSIVE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY IS MOVING SOUTHEASTWARD
   THROUGH ERN KY AND ERN TN THEN WWD INTO NRN AL AND NRN MS. THE
   ATMOSPHERE SOUTH OF THIS FEATURE IS ALREADY MODERATELY UNSTABLE WITH
   2000-2500 J/KG MLCAPE. STRONG DIABATIC HEATING OF THE BOUNDARY LAYER
   WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DESTABILIZATION THIS AFTERNOON. FLOW ALOFT IS
   WEAK WNWLY ALONG NRN PERIPHERY OF UPPER RIDGE. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE
   PROPENSITY FOR STORMS TO ORGANIZE INTO MULTICELL LINES ALONG THE
   OUTFLOW BOUNDARY...A SLIGHTLY GREATER CONCENTRATION OF STRONG TO
   DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL BE POSSIBLE THAN IS USUALLY EXPECTED IN A
   PULSE STORM ENVIRONMENT.

Big storms have popped over the NW Corner of the state this morning.  We are beginning to get a few damage reports in from the NW Corner of the area around the Shoals vicinity. 

0952 AM     LIGHTNING        6 SE MUSCLE SHOALS      34.68N 87.59W   
06/19/2010                   COLBERT            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR    
  
            LIGHTNING STRUCK A RESIDENCE ON SECOND STREET IN MUSCLE   
            SHOALS. WIRING IN THE HOUSE SUSTAINED DAMAGE BUT HOUSE   
            DID NOT CATCH FIRE.  

0900 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NW BARTON             34.75N 87.90W   
06/19/2010                   COLBERT            AL   PUBLIC            
  
            TREE BLOWN DOWN ON MULBERRY LANE OFF OF OLD LEE HWY IN   
            BARTON  

This will likely be the story as things move toward the southeast and develop into the Birmingham metro area later this afternoon as temperatures soar into the mid 90′s later today.  This hour, the storms will impact the Huntsville, Decatur, Moulton areas with deadly lightning, heavy rain, gusty winds, and small hail.  Be weather aware throughout the afternoon as these storms develop and approach.