Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
895 FXUS64 KBMX 260558 AFDBMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1258 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Monday) Issued at 709 PM CDT SAT MAY 25 2024 Scattered thunderstorms were still moving around Central Alabama early this evening. The short wave trough has moved east of the area but the smaller scale interactions along boundaries and pockets of instability will keep the activity going a few more hours. Expect a diminishing trend through midnight. A more pronounced trough moves by late tonight but appears to have its greatest impacts north of the area. Similar to last night, low clouds and patchy fog will develop around sunrise and slowly dissipate during the morning hours. Sunday appears to be a calmer day, as upper level heights will actually increase as a 594 decameter ridge builds over the central Gulf of Mexico. That will help winds aloft become more westerly to west- southwesterly by Sunday afternoon. If we get any convective activity during the day on Sunday, it should remain across the far northern counties. Rain chances will then increase across the northwest counties in response to the upper trough axis moving eastward over the plains states and approaching surface front in Arkansas. Hot and humid conditions are expected due to the lack of showers and storms with highs in the lower 90s in most locations. Heat indices will approach the 100 degree mark during the peak heating of the day. 56/GDG/75 && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through next Friday) Issued at 346 PM CDT SAT MAY 25 2024 The main story in the extended continues to be late Sunday night into Monday as the main upper system is expected to move through with some strong to severe storms possible. A second additional wave of convection may occur during the afternoon hours with heating before the surface system is through. After that, milder/ rain free conditions are expected for the second half of the week as ridging takes hold for Tuesday through Friday. 08 Previous long-term discussion: (Sunday night through next Friday) Issued at 327 AM CDT SAT MAY 25 2024 The main upper level trough is expected to slide through the region late Sunday night through the overnight hours into Monday. This upper wave will provide the forcing for showers and thunderstorms across Central AL. There will be enough instability in place, along with modest deep layer shear to support a few strong to severe storms overnight Sunday night into Monday. After the initial upper wave moves through, guidance suggests the surface boundary could trigger additional convection during the afternoon/evening hours on Monday as it moves through. Drier conditions expected Tuesday through Friday as the main trough remains to our east and broad ridging sets up to our west. Some guidance tries to bring a few waves down in this northwesterly flow, but this hasn`t been consistent. Most guidance shows the ridging winning out leading to mostly dry conditions for much of the upcoming week. 25/Owen && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1247 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2024 No convection expected during the forecast period despite plenty of instability. Slight upper ridging over Alabama today will keep a cap on convection, with thunderstorms expected to remain across Tennessee. Low clouds will form after 10Z with cigs 1000-2000 ft agl at most sites thru 14Z. VFR conds after 15Z as clouds lift and become scattered. Vsbys at TOI/TCL may fall below 3 miles at times thru 12Z with LIFR cigs possible at TOI between 10Z and 13Z. South winds will increase after 14Z with sustained speeds of 8-12 knots with gusts up to 20 kts across the northern TAF sites. 58/rose && .FIRE WEATHER... Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue into this evening. Another round of convection is expected again late Sunday night through Monday. 20 foot winds will be from the south to southwest at less than 5 mph this afternoon, increasing to 6 to 12 mph on Sunday. Patchy fog is possible across the eastern portions of the area as well. Min RH values will be near or above 45 percent through Monday, with overnight recoveries near 100%. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 89 68 88 62 / 10 60 60 20 Anniston 89 70 87 64 / 10 50 60 20 Birmingham 91 71 89 65 / 10 60 50 20 Tuscaloosa 92 72 90 66 / 0 60 40 20 Calera 90 72 89 66 / 0 50 50 20 Auburn 88 71 86 67 / 0 20 60 30 Montgomery 92 73 90 69 / 0 20 60 30 Troy 91 72 89 69 / 0 10 50 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...75 LONG TERM....08 AVIATION...58/rose