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Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
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576 FXUS64 KBMX 110817 AFDBMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 317 AM CDT Thu Jul 11 2024 ...New SHORT TERM... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Friday) Issued at 311 AM CDT THU JUL 11 2024 Relatively dry airmass will continue across central Alabama through the short term, and the forecast is pretty straightforward with respect to POPs and sky conditions. We will have two more days of lower dewpoints, so heat indices will not be a concern. All in all, it could be worse. Speaking of which... /61/ && .LONG TERM... (Friday night through next Wednesday) Issued at 157 AM CDT THU JUL 11 2024 Key Messages: - High temperatures return to the mid to upper 90s areawide through midweek next week. - Increasing humidity will result in afternoon heat index readings meeting or exceeding 105 degrees starting Sunday, then expanding further Monday through Wednesday. Friday through Monday. The forecast area will remain positioned between two sprawling mid-level ridges, once centered over Utah and the other over the Northwest Atlantic Basin. A residual weakness will persist over much of the Mid-Mississippi River Valley and Northern portions of the Tennessee Valley Regions. A few shortwave disturbances look to move east across these areas later in the weekend and into early next work week. Surface high pressure will extend from across much of the Northeast and Ohio River Valley southward through the Tennessee Valley into our Northern and Central Counties while a weak surface boundary remains positioned zonally just south of the forecast area toward the Northern Gulf coast Region. Expect this boundary to gradually retreat northward as a warm front late Saturday into Sunday with high pressure contracting across the Central Appalachians. The relative weakness in the ridging aloft along with strong surface heating and relative weaker surface high pressure will permit the development of isolated showers with some thunderstorm activity on Saturday with better chances generally along and south of Interstate 20 with lower chances for some lingering evening activity Saturday night. Similar conditions are expected Sunday with slightly higher chances across more of the area with lower chances far northeast and greater chances generally near the U.S. Highway 80 corridor and points south, isolated activity will be possible Sunday night across the southern half of the area. Isolated showers and storms are expected Monday across much o the area with some scattered activity possible across the far southern tier of the forecast area. Daytime highs will range from the mid 90s in the higher terrain east to near the century mark in spots. Overnight lows will increase, initially ranging from around 70 northeast to the low 70s south and west Saturday morning to widespread readings in the low to mid 70s by Monday morning. The combination of heat and increasing humidity will result in heat index values topping out around 103 far south and far west Saturday afternoon, followed by readings topping out near 105 degrees across more of the south and western counties Sunday and then topping out potentially above 105 across the far west and far south with much of the southern and western counties meeting heat advisory criteria Monday afternoon. Monday Night through Wednesday. Mid-level ridging begins to build closer to our area, over the Mid-South Region Tuesday into Wednesday as the mid-level weakness aloft moves further east of the area. Frontolysis is anticipated late Monday into Tuesday with surface high pressure centered to the southeast of the area. A return to isolated showers with some thunderstorms is forecast Monday night across the southern portion of the area overnight, then across much of the area during the day Tuesday. Isolated activity is forecast across the southeast portion o the area Tuesday night followed by isolated showers and storms northwest with scattered activity south and east on Wednesday. Much of the area looks to be entrenched in a rather uncomfortable humid airmass with hot temperatures during the afternoon hours and balmy overnight conditions. Lows will be in the low to mid 70s areawide Tuesday morning, followed by readings in the mid 70s areawide Wednesday morning. Highs will range from the mid 90s in the higher elevations east to near the century mark in some spots on Tuesday and Wednesday. The combination of heat and humidity will result in heat index values from 105-108 generally across all but the eastern higher elevation areas on Tuesday and Wednesday. 05 && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1223 AM CDT THU JUL 11 2024 All signs continue to point to VFR conditions across central Alabama TAF sites through the next 24 hours. No obvious issues that would affect the terminals -- just a light northwest wind picking up around 1500Z, and a few cumulus during the afternoon. /61/ && .FIRE WEATHER... Drier air and rain free conditions will remain in place over Central Alabama through Friday. Small shower & thunderstorm chances return over the weekend, as low level moisture slowly increases. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 92 67 96 68 / 0 0 0 0 Anniston 92 68 95 70 / 0 0 0 0 Birmingham 92 71 96 72 / 0 0 0 0 Tuscaloosa 94 71 96 71 / 0 0 0 0 Calera 93 71 96 72 / 0 0 0 0 Auburn 92 71 96 73 / 0 0 0 0 Montgomery 94 71 97 72 / 0 0 0 0 Troy 93 70 97 71 / 10 0 10 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...61 LONG TERM....05 AVIATION...61