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Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
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292 FXUS64 KBMX 170011 AFDBMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 711 PM CDT Tue Jul 16 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Wednesday) Issued at 639 PM CDT TUE JUL 16 2024 Showers and thunderstorms started a bit early this afternoon and have virtually run out the instability over the area. There may be a patch or two of unstable air out there, and this may allow a storm or two to develop the next hour or so. Otherwise, we are left with stratiform rain from the convective remnants. This rain will mostly diminish by 9 pm with only isolated activity the remainder of the night. Mid and high clouds covered much of the area early this evening. These clouds will also slowly erode becoming clear to partly cloudy. Lows stay in the normal range 70s. On Wednesday, no changes as numerous showers and storms will develop once again by afternoon. The Heat Advisory will be allowed to expire at 9 pm. The combination of storm initiation and how high temps can rise before hand remain an challenge. Will hold off on issuing another for Wednesday at this time. 75 Previous short-term discussion: (This afternoon through Wednesday) Issued at 1250 PM CDT TUE JUL 16 2024 Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected again this afternoon. Humid conditions are in place with generally weak west- southwest flow across the area. An upper-level low is situated to our west over the Lower MS River Valley which is seemingly dampening the ridge, although the ridge still has a foothold over the Deep South in the lower levels. With ample moisture, rain chances will remain elevated both today and tomorrow, especially during peak heating hours. Some storms could produce gusty winds which could knock down a few trees, much like yesterday, but these are routine summertime thunderstorms. The Heat Advisory remains in effect through this afternoon where some areas may reach heat indices up to 106F. Dewpoints look to be a couple degrees warmer tomorrow, but we`ll probably only reach the lower 90s by early afternoon due to the higher rain chances. So, it`s possible some areas could reach a heat index of 105F late tomorrow morning or early afternoon, but will hold off an issuing another Heat Advisory given the higher PoPs which should greatly reduce temperatures once storm outflow takes off, depending on where and how early storms initiate. 86/Martin && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through next Monday) Issued at 159 PM CDT TUE JUL 16 2024 Models continue to show a wetter pattern through the extended forecast period, with trends highlighting above normal rain chances and slightly below normal temperatures, as southwesterly flow persists through the weekend. 14 Previous long-term discussion: (Wednesday night through next Monday) Issued at 337 AM CDT TUE JUL 16 2024 The Lower Mississippi Valley and Deep South will remain in a favorable zone for active weather mid to late this week, mainly owing to the presence of an upper-level trough, an associated surface front, and moist, unstable air. These factors will support repeated cases of diurnal convection with best coverage anticipated on Thursday as the surface front move across the forecast area. The front should hang up to our south on Friday, stretching southwest to northeast. A shortwave is progged to advance across the frontal zone on Friday, embedded in an area of strengthening southwesterly flow aloft. Medium-range guidance keeps the primary trough axis to our west into this weekend, and this will provide opportunity for subsequent perturbations to pass over the area with continued moist, unstable air. Thus, the pattern will remain active with showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for the next several days. The trough and active weather will help keep temperatures moderated quite nicely, at least a few degrees below normal most days. 40/Sizemore && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 639 PM CDT TUE JUL 16 2024 Terminal forecast look very similar to the past few days. Thunderstorms are about done for the evening. Only a few pockets of instability remain, but any additional storms will be too limited to mention. Will stick with VCSH for a few more hours as activity continues decreasing. Then we will be left with mid and high VFR ceilings. Some thinning of the clouds is anticipated overnight. Winds remain light outside any convection. On Wednesday, another day of numerous storms. Expect the main activity to develop in the afternoon and last into the early evening. Started with PROB30 yet again and will narrow window with additional issuances. Winds also stay westerly 5-10kts. 75 && .FIRE WEATHER... Increased rain chances continue through the week, as a front stalls across the region. Scattered to numerous convective coverage can be expected Wednesday afternoon, with even greater coverage Thursday and Friday. Minimum RH values will be above 50 percent each afternoon through the end of the week, with southwesterly 20 ft winds at 4-6mph. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 72 93 69 90 / 20 70 60 90 Anniston 74 92 72 88 / 30 70 60 90 Birmingham 76 94 73 90 / 20 70 60 90 Tuscaloosa 74 93 73 90 / 20 70 60 90 Calera 75 92 73 90 / 30 70 50 90 Auburn 74 92 73 89 / 40 70 50 90 Montgomery 75 95 74 93 / 40 70 40 90 Troy 73 95 73 92 / 40 70 40 90 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for the following counties: Autauga-Barbour-Bibb-Blount-Bullock-Chilton-Coosa- Dallas-Elmore-Fayette-Greene-Hale-Jefferson-Lamar-Lowndes-Macon- Marengo-Marion-Montgomery-Perry-Pickens-Pike-Russell-Shelby-St. Clair-Sumter-Talladega-Tuscaloosa-Walker-Winston. && $$ SHORT TERM...75 LONG TERM....14 AVIATION...75