Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL

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323 FXUS64 KBMX 201658 AFDBMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1158 AM CDT Mon May 20 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, AVIATION... .SHORT TERM...
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(This afternoon through Tuesday) Issued at 1156 AM CDT MON MAY 20 2024 A large ridge over the East CONUS will support a period of warm and dry weather. The mid-level ridge axis extends from the Lower MS Valley northeast into New England producing northwest flow aloft. The surface ridge is extending down the spine of the Appalachians producing a light easterly surface wind across the area. Some weak surface convergence may kick off a shower or two in the west this afternoon where a field of cu has developed, but mostly sunny skies will be the story for the next couple of days with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Clear and mild tonight with lows in the 60s, and a small chance of some patchy fog early tomorrow morning. 86/Martin
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&& .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through next Sunday) Issued at 315 AM CDT MON MAY 20 2024 A low-level ridge will be situated across the Southeast on Wednesday, with southerly/southwesterly flow spreading from the Lower Mississippi Valley through the Ohio Valley, near an associated cold front. We`ll be in the upper 80s lower 90s that afternoon. The front will slowly progress east, facing resistance from a low- amplitude ridge across our region. Nonetheless, PWs and instability values make a slow increase across the Tennessee Valley, and by Thursday afternoon, some diurnal convection is possible. Only our far northwest/northern counties have mentionable PoPs Thursday. Medium-range guidance still depicts a shortwave perturbation moving across the I-40 corridor to our north on Friday. Convective coverage will increase as a result, but most activity still appears to remain to our north. Presence of the mid- to upper-level ridge will wane by Memorial Day weekend as guidance suggests a more zonal, split-flow aloft. Isolated to scattered diurnal convection is forecast Saturday and Sunday with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s - very summer-like weather. 40/Sizemore && .AVIATION...
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(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1156 AM CDT MON MAY 20 2024 VFR conditions are expected for this TAF cycle as Central Alabama falls under the influence of high pressure. Some cu has developed at a couple of the terminals, but a mix of SKC and some high clouds is expected overnight. There will be a light easterly wind at 5 to 8 kts then winds go calm after 00Z. 86/Martin
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&& .FIRE WEATHER... Generally sunny skies for the first of the week. 20 foot winds will become east-southeast at 4-7 mph this afternoon, with Min RH values at 40-50 percent. Max RH overnight will be over 90 percent. 20 foot winds will be southeast at 3-6 mph Tuesday, with Min RH values at 35-45 percent. Next chance for wetting rain on Thursday across the far north, with a better chance on Friday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
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Gadsden 85 59 88 61 / 10 0 0 0 Anniston 85 61 88 63 / 0 0 0 0 Birmingham 86 64 88 67 / 10 0 0 0 Tuscaloosa 88 64 88 66 / 10 0 0 0 Calera 85 63 87 66 / 10 0 0 0 Auburn 83 63 85 65 / 0 0 0 0 Montgomery 85 62 87 65 / 10 0 0 0 Troy 85 62 87 63 / 10 0 0 0
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&& .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...86/Martin LONG TERM....40 AVIATION...86/Martin