Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL

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248 FXUS64 KBMX 190147 AFDBMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 847 PM CDT Tue Jun 18 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, AVIATION... .SHORT TERM...
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(Tonight through Thursday) Issued at 835 PM CDT TUE JUN 18 2024 Considerable high cloudiness was spilling over the ridge aloft, 300mb and above. These clouds covered a large part of the Southeast. These clouds should hang around into much of Wednesday. Much drier air was located over Alabama lower in the atmosphere. This airmass rotated in from the east and south around the ridge on the East Coast. With this airmass in place, lows would have a chance at dropping into the 60s, but the high clouds will limit the overall release of radiation overnight. Have a few of the normally cooler places east into the upper 60s, but most locations will be in the 70s. Wednesday will be very close to today with high clouds and temperatures near 90 degrees. 75 Previous short-term discussion: (This afternoon through Wednesday) Issued at 1157 AM CDT TUE JUN 18 2024 Tranquil but hot and dry weather will be the story throughout the short-term period. The very broad upper level ridge centered over the Mid-Atlantic states will continue to build, with upper level heights increasing across the southern Appalachian states. Dry air has advected westward, especially evident just above 700mb as measured by the 12z KBMX sounding. No convective development is expected today as a result, with a more comfortable easterly flow at the surface. The dry air aloft is mixing to the surface in some locations, dropping dewpoints down into the 50s. In most cases, dewpoint observations are in the low to mid 60s with scattered to broken fair weather cumulus. Highs remain on track to top out in the lower 90s in most locations with easterly winds between 10 and 15mph. Partly cloudy skies can be expected tonight, with mostly high clouds streaming across the region with lows in the lower 70s. Wednesday is expected to be a rinse and repeat forecast, as the drier easterly flow continues with no rain chances. 56/GDG
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&& .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through next Monday) Issued at 113 PM CDT TUE JUN 18 2024 Anomalously strong mid-level ridging will be centered over the Mid-Atlantic Region to start the period. it will become elongated zonally as it becomes centered over West Tennessee by Friday, then become centered over the Southern Plains over the weekend. Deep- layer moisture will increase from the east late Friday through the weekend, resulting in a return for chances for showers and storms, initially Friday afternoon confined to areas southeast of Interstate 85 then again Saturday and Sunday afternoons across the southeast third of the area with isolated chances southeast of Interstate 85. High temperatures will be in the low 90s Wednesday, then increasing into the mid 90s by Friday followed by highs in the upper 90s Saturday and Sunday, however, these readings may be lower if shower and storm activity is greater. Low temperatures will be in the lower 70s Wednesday night through Friday night, followed by lows in the mid 70s on Sunday and Monday mornings. 05 Previous long-term discussion: (Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 357 AM CDT TUE JUN 18 2024 A 500 mb ridge over the Mid-Atlantic region will begin migrating southwestward on Thursday. Deep-layer easterlies south of this ridge will provide a fetch of relatively dry air through Friday with PWAT values in the 1-1.5 inch range. As the 500 mb ridge moves over Deep South, the moderating effects of easterly flow will wane as low- level flow weakens. Temperatures are expected to upward from the 89-92 degree range on Thursday, to the mid 90s for Friday through Sunday. Meanwhile, enhanced moisture associated with a weakening tropical wave may arrive in South Georgia and the Florida Panhandle and possibly into Southeast Alabama. Any showers and storms on Saturday should be isolated and confined to the southeastern part of our area. Slightly greater coverage of diurnal convection may occur on Sunday as southeasterly flow contributes to moisture advection. Though there is disagreement on the mid-level pattern on Monday, models are in general agreement on weak height falls and moistening of the atmosphere across the Deep South. As a result, showers and storms could become more numerous on Monday. 87/Grantham && .AVIATION...
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(00Z TAFS) Issued at 835 PM CDT TUE JUN 18 2024 VFR conditions are forecast the next 24 hours. Considerable high clouds remain over the state this evening and these clouds will hang around until Wednesday. Some cumulus may develop on Wednesday around 050, but will remain few/sct. East southeast winds overnight will be light west and 5-10kts south. On Wednesday, winds will be easterly around 10kts and gusty at times into the 15-20kt range. 75
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&& .FIRE WEATHER...
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Rain-free conditions will remain through Friday as easterly winds bring drier air to the region. This will lead to a downtrend in RH values into the 35 to 45 percent range each day. Easterly 20 ft winds will range from 7 to 12 mph through Thursday.
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&& .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
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Gadsden 68 90 67 91 / 0 0 0 0 Anniston 71 90 69 90 / 0 0 0 0 Birmingham 74 91 71 92 / 0 0 0 0 Tuscaloosa 74 91 71 91 / 0 0 0 0 Calera 73 91 71 92 / 0 0 0 0 Auburn 71 88 69 88 / 0 0 0 0 Montgomery 73 90 71 91 / 0 0 0 0 Troy 70 90 69 90 / 0 0 0 0
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&& .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...75 LONG TERM....05 AVIATION...75