NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL1030 PM EDT SUN SEP 30 2007

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

A LARGE BUT DISORGANIZED AREA OF CLOUDINESS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMSIS LOCATED OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...BAHAMA ISLANDS...ANDPORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. THIS ACTIVITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH ANUPPER-LEVEL TROUGH AND A WEAK SURFACE LOW. SOME SLOWDEVELOPMENT...PERHAPS OF A SUBTROPICAL NATURE...IS POSSIBLE DURINGTHE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES SLOWLY WESTWARD ORWEST-SOUTHWESTWARD.

DISORGANIZED CLOUDINESS AND THUNDERSTORMS...THE REMNANTS OF KAREN...EXTEND FROM THE LEEWARD ISLANDS EASTWARD FOR SEVERALHUNDRED MILES. THE STRONG UPPER-LEVEL WINDS IN THIS AREA COULDWEAKEN A LITTLE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...BUT ANYDEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BE SLOW TO OCCUR AS ITMOVES NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 TO 15 MPH.

THE REMNANT LOW OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION MELISSA IS LOCATEDABOUT 675 MILES WEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS AND IS MOVINGWEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 TO 15 MPH. THIS SYSTEM IS PRODUCING ONLYLIMITED AND INTERMITTENT THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...AND REGENERATIONAPPEARS UNLIKELY DUE TO STRONG UPPER-LEVEL WINDS.

Feathered Attraction

As we transition to fall, migrant birds are headed south, and residents of the Southeast U.S. are likely to see a variety of small birds in their yards, including warblers and hummingbirds. This is also a great time of year to see wading birds, waterfowl, and raptors passing through, many of whom may stop off in yards to rest and "refuel.

Nice weather offers the ideal opportunity to get outside and fix-up your yard for feathered friends. Because September weather can still be hot and dry, birds will be looking for a fresh source of water for drinking and bathing. Water in birdbaths should be no more than two-inches deep, which will allow birds to stand. This is also a great time to add a new feeder (or two!) to your yard - offering a variety of seeds, fruits, and nuts will attract many birds for you to enjoy. The Northern Flicker (also called the Yellowhammer), Alabama's state bird and a common resident, will enjoy hulled sunflower seeds and suet.

Today's Weather History

I figured this was fairly relevant due to the drought we have been experiencing....

1970 - A nineteen month drought in southern California came to a climax. The drought, which made brush and buildings tinder dry, set up the worst fire conditions in California history as hot Santa Anna winds sent the temperature soaring to 105 degrees at Los Angeles, and to 97 degrees at San Diego. During that last week of September whole communities of interior San Diego County were consumed by fire. Half a million acres were burned, and the fires caused fifty million dollars damage.

T.S. Melissa

VERY DEEP CONVECTION HAS BEEN PERSISTING NEAR MELISSA FOR THE PASTSEVERAL HOURS...AND THE CENTER APPEARS TO BE JUST SOUTH OF A NEWBURST OF THUNDERSTORMS. SATELLITE INTENSITY ESTIMATES AREINCREASING A LITTLE...AND THE INITIAL INTENSITY WILL BE NUDGEDUPWARD TO 40 KT. THIS INTENSIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BESHORT-LIVED AS INCREASING WESTERLY SHEAR AFFECTS THE TROPICALCYCLONE. A SLOW WEAKENING IS SHOWN IN THE NHC FORECAST... AND THENIS A LITTLE FASTER AFTER 36 HOURS AS THE SHIPS MODEL DIAGNOSES OVER30 KT OF DESTRUCTIVE WESTERLY SHEAR. MELISSA IS A SMALL TROPICALCYCLONE...AND SINCE SMALL STORMS ARE TYPICALLY MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TOSHEAR...IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING FOR IT TO DISSIPATE FASTER THANSHOWN BELOW.

Today's Weather History

A significant tornado outbreak hit Charleston, S.C. on this date in 1938. Five tornadoes ravaged the town, killing 32 people and causing $2 million dollars in damage. Markey and Broad Streets were almost totally destroyed by the third tornado in the outbreak.

Tropical Storm Melissa Develops.. .The Latest..

...MELISSA MOVING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD OVER THE FAR EASTERNATLANTIC...NO THREAT TO LAND...

AT 500 PM AST...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM MELISSA WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 29.5 WEST OR ABOUT 365MILES...590 KM...WEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.

MELISSA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...20 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHERGUSTS.

LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24HOURS.TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KMFROM THE CENTER.ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1005 MB...29.68 INCHES.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT1100 PM AST.

Red Flag Warning

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1127 AM CDT FRI SEP 28 2000

...VERY DRY AND BREEZY CONDITIONS SPREADING INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA...

.HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION WILL SPREAD A VERY
DRY AIRMASS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH SATURDAY. ALONG WITH
THE DRY CONDITIONS...BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL MAKE FOR A HIGH
FIRE DANGER DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON. A
FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH
IS IN EFFECT SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

Today's Weather History

The H.M.S. Racer came across a hurricane in the Caribbean Sea on this date in 1837. The Racer ran with the storm for four days as it approached the Yucatan Peninsula. The "Racer's Hurricane of 1837" then crossed the Yucatan Peninsula and stalled off the Mexican coast before gradually curving along the entire Gulf Coast.

Welcome to the Blog!

I would like to welcome everyone to the CBS 42 weather web log (or Blog).

This is something new for CBS 42 and I hope you will all take part in shaping the blog to be a fun and friendly atmosphere for open discussion of weather and science in general.

I think we will use the blog as an addition to our weather summary located on our website. We may post more detailed information about weather events or we may just want to share with you some interesting photos. Again, you are going to help shape the blog.

A few notes... all comments on the blog will be moderated by myself (Charles Daniel), David Sawyer, Lauren Whisenhunt, or Michael Nix (our web admin). In order to sustain a positive atmosphere, we ask that those posting comments do so in a professional and respectable manner.

Thanks and have a great day,

Charles Daniel

Welcome aboard!

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