The Alabama Weather Blog

If you don't like the weather in Alabama, just wait ten minutes.

Current Time:


Friday, December 04, 2009

ABC 33/40 E-Forecast

ABC 33/40 E-FORECAST
Afternoon Edition For Friday December 4, 2009
===================================================================
GENE BARTOW CLASSIC
UAB vs. ETSU
Friday, December 4th at 7:00 pm
Bartow Arena

UAB Basketball will salute a legend in both Birmingham and
college athletics, Gene Bartow--the man that started UAB Athletics
and won over 600 games in his illustrious 34-year career.

Help honor Coach Bartow when the UAB Blazers take on
East Tennessee State, coached by Murry Bartow.

In addition, the Athletic Department has partnered with the
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a portion of every
ticket sold will go toward cancer research.

Tickets are normally $15, but through this link, tickets can be
purchased for just $10. Simply click here:
http://tiny.cc/ZnaPx
and enter the code: BARTOW

For more information, call 205-975-UAB1
===================================================================

...Alabama Weather Is Active...

DECEMBER STARTING VERY ACTIVE: We have a rather complicated weather situation affecting our area today and extending into Saturday. It is a bit unusual because it is early to have snow in our forecast, although it has happened in past history as early as late November.

Lots of weather problems all across the Southern USA today from Texas to Florida. An active low-pressure area continues to deepen over the NW Gulf of Mexico. After it moves inland, it will speed north eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Coast Saturday. So, we ask, what does this mean for Alabama? It means a risk of some rain changing over to snow tonight in parts of the state. This does not look like a major snowstorm. However, part of SW Alabama, places like Washington County, could possibly get 3 inches of snow. In North and Central Alabama, the snow will not arrive until late tonight, even possibly after midnight. We expect very little snow over the NW third of the state. In the Birmingham metro area, the snow should not arrive until toward midnight and ending Saturday morning.

HOW MUCH SNOW: We have looked at raw weather data until our eyes look like a street map. We have come up with this: accumulations in this part of Alabama ranging from a dusting to possibly 1 inch. The soil is still relatively warm, so if that 1 inch does occur, it will be mainly over grassy areas and on roofs, etc. Whatever happens, the snow should get away quickly Saturday morning as temperatures go for the 40s and the sun comes out. Colder air will continue to move into our area from the NW and by Sunday morning we should see some of our coldest temperatures this season. We are shooting for 26 as an average across North/Central Alabama. Some cold spots up in NE Alabama could take a shot at 22.

OUR NEXT PRECIPITATION: At least we will have a mostly sunny day Sunday, but clouds will increase at night and more rain will move into our area on Monday. There is also a good chance of showers on Tuesday and those should become more numerous Tuesday night. That combined rain event on Monday and Tuesday and Tuesday night may give us between 1.50 and 2.00 inches of additional rain, which we do not exactly need.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS: Good time to go if you love snow. In the Gatlinburg area, a storm total of 3-6 inches of new snow is expected tonight and Saturday.

ROAMING: The city of Houston was white with snow today and a Winter Storm Warning was posted for them and SE Texas where 2-4 inches was possible. Some fairly good amounts also expected over parts of Central Louisiana and South Mississippi. The coldest temperature in the nation this morning was 18 below at Big Piney, Wyoming and 21 below at Nuiqsut, Alaska.

MY TINY CORNER OF THE WORLD: I often like to take my snack or even my meal and sit on the couch to eat. Little Miss Molly now jumps on the couch and puts both of her front feet on my knee and starts licking her lips and smacking. The majority owner still has me under an executive order not allowing any human food for the little girl. Howsomever, I saw her sneaking a few little pieces of popcorn to Molly one night. I wish I could treat her too. Life goes on.

J.B. Elliott
jb.elliott@theweathercompany.com

ABC 33/40 7 Day Planner: http://cfc.abc3340.com/abc3340/7day.cfm
ABC 33/40 Weather Blog: http://www.alabamawx.com

=========================================================
HUNTER STREET CHRISTMAS WORSHIP CONCERT
Sunday, December 13

Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, The Hope of
The World, at Hunter Street's Christmas Worship
Concert December 13 at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

This will be a morning of glorious music, powerful praise
and worship and a message of hope and grace.

Everyone is welcome. There is no charge. Childcare is
available for children, birth to K5.

Hunter Street is located at 2600 John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover.

For more information, call 205.985.7295 or
visit http://www.hunterstreet.org
=========================================================

*******************************************************

TONIGHT
Cold with occasional snow starting late, mainly after midnight. Light accumulations possible.
Morning Low 30
WIND: NW 6-12

SATURDAY
Snow ending during the morning. Clearing by afternoon.
Morning Low 30 Afternoon High 43
WIND: N 10-18

SUNDAY
Mostly sunny. A widespread morning freeze.
Morning Low 26 Afternoon High 52
WIND: SE 6-12

MONDAY
Clouds increase with a chance of showers.
Morning Low 39 Afternoon High 54
WIND: S 7-14

TUESDAY
A good chance of showers increasing Tuesday night.
Morning Low 43 Afternoon High 59
WIND: SW 10-18

********************************************************

Tonight on ABC 33/40:

6:00pm ABC 33/40 News
6:30pm Wheel of Fortune
7:00pm Dreams Come True
8:00pm Ugly Betty
9:00pm 20/20
10:00pm ABC 33/40 News
10:30pm Nightline

*********************************************************
If you are interested in advertising on this E-Forecast, please
contact us at 205-985-9725 or bill.hardekopf@theweathercompany.com.
Ads reach over 30,000 subscribers each day, creating over 200,000
impressions each week. Just $95 per week!To subscribe or unsubscribe from the ABC 33/40 E-Forecast, go here:
http://www.jamesspann.com/eforecast.html

ABC 33/40 E-Forecast

ABC 33/40 E-FORECAST
Morning Edition For Friday December 4, 2009
===================================================================
ZOЁS KITCHEN:
It's the Giving Season!

Purchase ZOЁS ANGELS for $1 or $5 beginning December 1
and be part of the Season Spirit! 100% of proceeds benefit
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis through the Arthritis Foundation of AL

FINALLY! A GIFT IN GOOD TASTE!
Zoës gift cards make your Holiday gift giving easier than ever!

Sign up for ZOЁ-MAIL at www.zoeskitchen.com
to receive coupons and news via email.
Your email will be kept private! Our Guarantee!

Follow us on TWITTER! http://twitter.com/ZoesKitchen
Be our Fan on FACEBOOK! http://www.facebook.com/ZoesKitchen

CALL AHEAD today! We CATER! 30 locations & growing!

Patton Creek 205-989-4020 Homewood 205-870-1100
Summit 205-967-5800 Crestline 205-871-0060
Downtown 205-252-5200 Tuscaloosa 205-344-4450
===================================================================

...Some Snow As The Weekend Begins...

COLD DECEMBER WEEKEND: Temperatures will remain well below seasonal averages today and tomorrow; our average high today is 59 degrees, but most communities won't get out of the 40s again with a generally cloudy sky. To the west, a strong upper air wave will spin up a surface low in the Gulf Of Mexico late tonight, and promises to bring the risk of snow flakes to part of Alabama tomorrow morning. We will know that forecasting winter weather in Alabama is always problematic, but here is our expected scenario…

WHEN? The best chance of snow for Central Alabama will come from 1:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

WHERE? While snow flurries are possible as far north as the Tennessee Valley of extreme North Alabama, the best mix of cold air and moisture will come generally in the area from Birmingham south to Greenville, or south of I-20 and north of Alabama 10. Below Greenville, some sleet or snow flakes could mix with the rain over far South Alabama.

HOW MUCH? We expect a dusting, to around one inch in the central part of the state, mainly on grassy areas. A few isolated two inch amounts are not out of the question across the higher terrain of East-Central Alabama. Many communities won't get enough snow to make a snowman, or get a good snowball fight fired up. We certainly do not expect this to be a major winter storm for Alabama.

WHAT ABOUT DRIVING CONDITIONS? With relatively warm soil temperatures, we figure most roads will be wet, and no major travel problems are expected. Temperatures will be generally in the 33 to 35 degree range as the snow falls, but where temperatures can drop to freezing, a few icy spots on bridges are possible.

REST OF THE WEEKEND: The sky will become partly sunny tomorrow afternoon as the light snow moves out of Alabama. Temperatures will struggle to reach the low 40s tomorrow, and we should be in the 24 to 29 degree range by daybreak Sunday with a clear sky and light wind. Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high in the low to mid 50s.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Bundle up for today and tonight's Super 6 high school championship games at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Temperatures this afternoon will be in the 45 to 49 degree range, dropping into the low 40s tonight for the Hoover-Prattville 6A game. The sky will be mostly cloudy, but no precipitation is expected.

NEXT WEEK: Clouds will return Sunday night, and some light rain is possible at times Monday and Tuesday. The rain should be more widespread Tuesday night into Wednesday, along with the possibility of a few strong thunderstorms as a robust upper trough approaches Alabama from the west. Colder and drier air will return by Thursday.

James Spann
jspann@abc3340.com

ABC 33/40 7 Day Planner: http://cfc.abc3340.com/abc3340/7day.cfm
ABC 33/40 Weather Blog: http://www.alabamawx.com

=========================================================
GENE BARTOW CLASSIC
UAB vs. ETSU
Friday, December 4th at 7:00 pm
Bartow Arena

UAB Basketball will salute a legend in both Birmingham and
college athletics, Gene Bartow--the man that started UAB Athletics
and won over 600 games in his illustrious 34-year career.

Help honor Coach Bartow when the UAB Blazers take on
East Tennessee State, coached by Murry Bartow.

In addition, the Athletic Department has partnered with the
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a portion of every
ticket sold will go toward cancer research.

Tickets are normally $15, but through this link, tickets can be
purchased for just $10. Simply click here:
http://tiny.cc/ZnaPx
and enter the code: BARTOW

For more information, call 205-975-UAB1
=========================================================

*******************************************************

TODAY
Mostly cloudy and cold.
Afternoon High 48
WIND: N 7-14

SATURDAY
Breezy and colder with a chance of light snow during the morning. A dusting to around one inch possible on grassy areas.
Morning Low 32 Afternoon High 43
WIND: N 12-22

SUNDAY
A good supply of sunshine. A cold morning.
Morning Low 26 Afternoon High 54
WIND: E 5-10

MONDAY
Mostly cloudy. Some light rain possible by afternoon.
Morning Low 43 Afternoon High 56
WIND: S 6-12

TUESDAY
Mostly cloudy with some rain possible at times. Rain becoming widespread by Tuesday night.
Morning Low 47 Afternoon High 60
WIND: SW 10-15

********************************************************

Tonight on ABC 33/40

6:00pm ABC 33/40 News
6:30pm Wheel Of Fortune
7:00pm Dreams Come True
8:00pm Ugly Betty
9:00pm 20/20
10:00pm ABC 33/40 News
10:35pm Friday Night Blitz

*********************************************************
If you are interested in advertising on this E-Forecast, please
contact us at 205-985-9725 or bill.hardekopf@theweathercompany.com.
Ads reach over 30,000 subscribers each day, creating over 200,000
impressions each week. Just $95 per week!To subscribe or unsubscribe from the ABC 33/40 E-Forecast, go here:
http://www.jamesspann.com/eforecast.html

Thursday, December 03, 2009

ABC 33/40 E-Forecast

ABC 33/40 E-FORECAST
Afternoon Edition For Thursday December 3, 2009
===================================================================
GENE BARTOW CLASSIC
UAB vs. ETSU
Friday, December 4th at 7:00 pm
Bartow Arena

UAB Basketball will salute a legend in both Birmingham and
college athletics, Gene Bartow--the man that started UAB Athletics
and won over 600 games in his illustrious 34-year career.

Help honor Coach Bartow when the UAB Blazers take on
East Tennessee State, coached by Murry Bartow.

In addition, the Athletic Department has partnered with the
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a portion of every
ticket sold will go toward cancer research.

Tickets are normally $15, but through this link, tickets can be
purchased for just $10. Simply click here:
http://tiny.cc/ZnaPx
and enter the code: BARTOW

For more information, call 205-975-UAB1
===================================================================

...Dealing With Early Winter...

SOME SNOW IN OUR PICTURE: All of us have been pondering the weather all day and we have come up with this scenario: Not sealed in stone by any means since it is a developing situation. Some of our weather models are at war with each other:

FRIDAY: Breezy and cold with high in the 40s. No precipitation

except possibly some light snow late at night. Could even be past midnight. Low for Friday night and early Saturday morning 31. Brisk north winds.

SATURDAY: Occasional snow through most of the morning and ending at some point in the afternoon. Light accumulations. For BHM Metro best estimate is about 1/2 to one inch. Melting will start soon. We expect the Saturday morning low at 31 but an afternoon high of 43. The ground is not very cold, in fact soil temperatures this morning across Central Alabama were in the 52-55 range. It is unlikely that local travel problems will develop, however, if we do get a full inch, could be some temporary slick spots on bridges and overpasses. The snow will taper off with very little over North Alabama. There is the
possibility of 2 to 3 inch amounts over the south third of the state.

We should point out that all of this weather excitement is due to another low-pressure area that will develop over the Gulf of Mexico. If it tracks too far south, it could pull our moisture supply southward and cut down on the chances of snow. We do not think that will happen.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY: Clear and colder with a widespread freeze. Low Sunday morning as cold as 26. A Sunday afternoon warm up with high near 55.

PROWLING OTHER PLACES: Interesting to note that Houston is expecting 1 to 2 inches of snow with as much as 3 inches at Beaumont, Texas and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Even New Orleans will get at least some snow…Syracuse has been in a snow drought with only ½ inch so far this season…USA extremes in the last 24 hours included 87 at Ft. Pierce and Vero Beach, Florida yesterday and 19 below in Yellowstone Park this morning. That was 1 degree colder than the low for Alaska, which was 18 below at Northway…it is interesting to note (at least to me) that on December 4, 1972, Livingston, Montana saw their temperature nosedive from 52 to 18 in only 20 minutes. That is what we used to call a Cold Wave Warning. I miss those…lots of rain east and NE of Alabama yesterday, including over 3 inches at Columbus, Georgia and Tallahassee and over 2 inches at Richmond and Raleigh.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: There may be still some high school play off games Friday night. Not very comfortable with temperatures in the mid 40s at kick off and upper 30s at the final whistle.

MY TINY CORNER OF THE WORLD: I often wonder what Little Miss Molly thinks of me. I came home from Wednesday night church last evening and she almost took me down. She acted like I had been gone a week and she was so glad to see me. She was dancing around and around on the tile floor in the kitchen and it sounded like a person tap dancing. She even walked on her hind legs toward me holding her front paws for me to pick her up. Of course, I did, because she owns me. I gave her a long belly rub and I truly believe that she smiled at me, although I understand that dogs do not smile. Life goes on.

J.B. Elliott
jb.elliott@theweathercompany.com

ABC 33/40 7 Day Planner: http://cfc.abc3340.com/abc3340/7day.cfm
ABC 33/40 Weather Blog: http://www.alabamawx.com

=========================================================
HUNTER STREET CHRISTMAS WORSHIP CONCERT
Sunday, December 13

Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, The Hope of
The World, at Hunter Street's Christmas Worship
Concert December 13 at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

This will be a morning of glorious music, powerful praise
and worship and a message of hope and grace.

Everyone is welcome. There is no charge. Childcare is
available for children, birth to K5.

Hunter Street is located at 2600 John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover.

For more information, call 205.985.7295 or
visit http://www.hunterstreet.org
=========================================================

*******************************************************

TONIGHT
Mostly cloudy and cold.
Morning Low 34
WIND: NW 5-10

FRIDAY
Clouds increase. Chance of some snow after midnight.
Morning Low 34 Afternoon High 48
WIND: N 10-15

SATURDAY
Breezy with intermittent snow through the morning. ½ to possibly 1 inch possible.
Morning Low 31 Afternoon High 43
WIND: N 10-18

SUNDAY
Mostly sunny. A widespread morning freeze.
Morning Low 26 Afternoon High 52
WIND: E 5-10

MONDAY
Clouds increase again with a chance of some rain.
Morning Low 38 Afternoon High 55
WIND: S 6-12

********************************************************

Tonight on ABC 33/40:

6:00pm ABC 33/40 News
6:30pm Wheel of Fortune
7:00pm FlashForward
8:0opm Private Practice
9:00pm Private Practice
10:00pm ABC 33/40 News
10:30pm Nightline

*********************************************************
If you are interested in advertising on this E-Forecast, please
contact us at 205-985-9725 or bill.hardekopf@theweathercompany.com.
Ads reach over 30,000 subscribers each day, creating over 200,000
impressions each week. Just $95 per week!To subscribe or unsubscribe from the ABC 33/40 E-Forecast, go here:
http://www.jamesspann.com/eforecast.html

ABC 33/40 E-Forecast

ABC 33/40 E-FORECAST
Morning Edition For Thursday December 3, 2009
===================================================================
ZOЁS KITCHEN:
It's the Giving Season!

Purchase ZOЁS ANGELS for $1 or $5 beginning December 1
and be part of the Season Spirit! 100% of proceeds benefit
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis through the Arthritis Foundation of AL

FINALLY! A GIFT IN GOOD TASTE!
Zoës gift cards make your Holiday gift giving easier than ever!

Sign up for ZOЁ-MAIL at www.zoeskitchen.com
to receive coupons and news via email.
Your email will be kept private! Our Guarantee!

Follow us on TWITTER! http://twitter.com/ZoesKitchen
Be our Fan on FACEBOOK! http://www.facebook.com/ZoesKitchen

CALL AHEAD today! We CATER! 30 locations & growing!

Patton Creek 205-989-4020 Homewood 205-870-1100
Summit 205-967-5800 Crestline 205-871-0060
Downtown 205-252-5200 Tuscaloosa 205-344-4450
===================================================================

...Snow Saturday?...

SNOW FLAKES SATURDAY? Before we get to the big question, let's talk about weather in the shorter term. Chilly air will cover Alabama today and tomorrow; we don't expect to get out of the 40s with a cool breeze and a generally cloudy sky. The sun could peek out at times, but a persistent southwest flow aloft will keep clouds in place much of the time. And, we don't expect any significant precipitation through tomorrow despite the clouds.

TO THE WEST: A strong disturbance aloft will rotate through the big upper trough covering the eastern half of the nation, and will help to generate a surface wave of low pressure on the Polar front in the Gulf of Mexico Friday night. This will spread rain into the Gulf Coast region, and will set the stage for a few snow flakes over the interior sections of Alabama and other Southeast U.S. states after midnight Friday night and into Saturday morning.

We all know forecasting snow is a very difficult task here in our state, but confidence is fairly high that we will see at least a few snow flurries. While the deeper moisture will be over far South Alabama, it does appear that we could see enough light snow for a dusting, or maybe even some light accumulation Saturday morning (one inch or so), especially over the East-Central counties. But, the ground is relatively warm, and with surface temperatures Saturday morning expected to be just above freezing, we don't anticipate any serious or widespread travel problems at this time. The main window for light snow will come from about 3:00 a.m until 10:00 a.m. Saturday. And, the best chance of that snow will be north of a line from Thomasville to Greenville to Phenix City, and south of a line from Hamilton to Scottsboro. As always, this forecast is subject to change, so stay tuned.

THE REST OF THE WEEKEND: The sky becomes partly sunny Saturday afternoon as the storm system rolls to the northeast, but temperatures will stay cold with a high only in the low to mid 40s. Sunday will be partly to mostly sunny with a high around 50. Then, next week, some light rain is possible Monday and Tuesday, followed by a more significant rain event by Tuesday night and Wednesday.

TRAVEL WEATHER: Lots of people headed to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game Saturday… their weather will be very similar to ours. Cold and dry tomorrow and tomorrow night, but some light snow or snow flurries are likely during the day Saturday. For now we won't expect any travel issues in the Atlanta metro. We will guarantee dry weather for the Alabama/Florida game with light wind and about 70 degrees at kickoff. Those domes sure make forecasting easier…

WET WEDNESDAY: Birmingham's rain total was 1.62", bringing the total for 2009 to 67.18", giving us a whopping surplus of 17.36" for the year!

James Spann
jspann@abc3340.com

ABC 33/40 7 Day Planner: http://cfc.abc3340.com/abc3340/7day.cfm
ABC 33/40 Weather Blog: http://www.alabamawx.com

=========================================================
GENE BARTOW CLASSIC
UAB vs. ETSU
Friday, December 4th at 7:00 pm
Bartow Arena

UAB Basketball will salute a legend in both Birmingham and
college athletics, Gene Bartow--the man that started UAB Athletics
and won over 600 games in his illustrious 34-year career.

Help honor Coach Bartow when the UAB Blazers take on
East Tennessee State, coached by Murry Bartow.

In addition, the Athletic Department has partnered with the
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a portion of every
ticket sold will go toward cancer research.

Tickets are normally $15, but through this link, tickets can be
purchased for just $10. Simply click here:
http://tiny.cc/ZnaPx
and enter the code: BARTOW

For more information, call 205-975-UAB1
=========================================================

*******************************************************

TODAY
Mostly cloudy and colder.
Afternoon High 48
WIND: N 7-14

FRIDAY
More clouds than sun.
Morning Low 35 Afternoon High 49
WIND: N 7-14

SATURDAY
A chance of light snow during the morning; becoming partly sunny by afternoon.
Morning Low 32 Afternoon High 44
WIND: NE 7-14

SUNDAY
Mostly sunny.
Morning Low 30 Afternoon High 49
WIND: E 5-10

MONDAY
Mostly cloudy. Some light rain possible by afternoon.
Morning Low 37 Afternoon High 52
WIND: S 6-12

********************************************************

Tonight on ABC 33/40

7:00pm
Flash Forward
8:00pm
Private Practice