Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
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991 FXUS64 KBMX 120858 AFDBMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 358 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Monday) Issued at 256 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2024 An upper level ridge axis will move across the area today, as surface high pressure remains centered over the region. Expect an increase in mid and high clouds in advance of a mid level warm front that will lift into the area tonight, ahead of a trough moving across the Plains. Highs today will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s, with light and variable winds. Surface high pressure will begin to pull eastward tonight as a mid level warm front lifts across the area. Low level winds turn to the south and moisture returns to the area. With that increase, light rain will be possible across the southwest this evening with coverage increasing overnight. Lows tonight will be in the upper 50s to lower 60, with mostly cloudy skies. Monday, upper level flow becomes southwesterly ahead of a trough moving across the Mid Mississippi River Valley. Ahead of the surface warm front, low level lift will result in more widespread rain showers and maybe a couple thunderstorms. The more widespread this activity is, the less likely the warm front is able to lift northward, curbing any strong storm potential. Several model solutions do show the greater convective coverage remaining to our south on Monday. With the widespread rainfall and clouds, highs on Monday will be in the upper 60s to lower 80s. 14 && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through next Saturday) Issued at 256 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2024 An upper-level low is forecast to slowly move east across the Mid Mississippi Valley Tuesday morning, favoring forcing for ascent across Central Alabama. This disturbance will coincide with ongoing warm, moist advection across the Gulf Coast/Deep South with southwesterly low-level flow. Showers and thunderstorms are expected throughout the day as a result. Guidance suggests heavier convection will likely favor the I-10 corridor throughout the day, though there`s potential for enough instability (MUCAPE 2,000-3,000 J/kg per the ECMWF/NAM) to support a few strong/severe thunderstorms given 40-50 kts eff. bulk shear. Forecast hodographs are mainly unidirectional, suggesting updraft splits with hail potential and perhaps some damaging winds. This is a low-confidence forecast considering uncertainties on how the system evolves, but is warranted given the parameter space. The disturbance aloft is progged to devolve into an open wave trough by Tuesday evening, with the low-level jet moving off to our east. Convection will fade from west-to-east Tuesday night. While some wrap-around moisture could foster isolated showers on Wednesday, conditions will be more stable with northwesterly flow. Thursday will be another nice day weather-wise, with highs in the 80s. However, the next system remains on track to enter the area Thursday night into Friday with potential for widespread showers and thunderstorms. There`s also potential for additional severe weather and flooding on this day that will be monitored accordingly. 40/Sizemore && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1246 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2024 Surface high pressure remains over the area today, with VFR conditions expected over the next 24 hours. Winds will be light and variable to start the period increasing to 5kts by this afternoon. An increase in high clouds is expected. Rain chances will increase just beyond this forecast cycle. 14 && .FIRE WEATHER... Rain free conditions continue through much of today, before showers return to the area this evening. More widespread rainfall and a few thunderstorms are expected for Monday. Today, light and variable 20ft winds are expected as high pressure remains over the area. Min RH values will range from 28 to 35 percent in the northeast counties to 40 to 48 in the southwest counties. 20ft winds increase from the southeast Monday at 6-12mph, with minimum RH values well above critical threshold. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 81 57 71 62 / 0 30 80 70 Anniston 81 59 72 64 / 0 30 90 70 Birmingham 82 62 72 65 / 10 40 90 70 Tuscaloosa 82 62 74 66 / 10 50 90 70 Calera 82 62 73 65 / 10 40 90 70 Auburn 80 63 75 65 / 10 20 80 80 Montgomery 83 64 76 67 / 10 30 90 80 Troy 82 63 78 67 / 10 20 80 80 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...14 LONG TERM....40/Sizemore AVIATION...14