Undergoing Some Changes..

We have received several emails and comments concerning the weather blog here on Blogspot so I felt the need to address the questions. As you know we are undergoing changes at CBS 42 and along with that our weather page/s at CBS42.com will also be changing.

As far as the blog goes, we are uncertain of its future role, but at CBS42.com you can access our blog articles. The only drawback to doing it this way is that we will lose the ability of our readers to leave comments. This is a temporary change so please bear with us as we continue to grow our web presence.

Thanks for your understanding in this matter.

God Bless,

Charles Daniel
Meteorologist, CBS 42

Fourth of July

The Fourth of July holiday weekend is looking pretty good. We should see a handful of T-Showers Friday thru the weekend. Otherwise, temps are going to be normal and at times a bit cooler than normal.
If you're headed to the beach, expect a little better chance of showers and storms, but they will be scattered also. Temps should hang around 90 degrees on the coast and humidity levels will be high there as well. So, other than a few passing storms, it's not looking too bad for the weekend on the Gulf Coast. But, hey, you'll be at the beach...that's what counts!

MPrater

Air Quality for Monday

The Air Quality for Birmingham on Monday will be in the orange zone- which us unhealthy for sensitive groups. On orange days, be sure to wait until after 6:00 pm to fill your car with gas or mow the lawn. Also try to avoid going through drive thru windows.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Chilton County

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTEDSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL538 PM CDT

SAT JUN 14 2008THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... CHILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...JEMISON...CLANTON...* UNTIL 615 PM CDT*

AT 531 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR CHILTON COUNTY MOTOR SPORTS PARK...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JEMISON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THORSBY...UNION GROVE AND GAP OF THE MOUNTAINWINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOMEDAMAGE...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

WINSTON AL-520 PM CDT SAT JUN 14 2008...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT

FOR SOUTHWESTERN WINSTON COUNTY...AT 517 PM CDT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE ASEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...ANDDAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEARNATURAL BRIDGE...OR ABOUT NEAR LYNN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 9 MPH.THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... LYNN...6 MILES NORTHWEST OF ASHBANK...7 MILES WEST OF CLEAR CREEK AND 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WINSTON FREE STATE BARN BY 530 PM CDT...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Bibb

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTEDSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
430 PM CDT SAT JUN 14 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...CENTREVILLE...BRENT...* UNTIL 515 PM CDT*

AT 426 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WEST BLOCTON TO 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF EOLINE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES NORTH OF CENTREVILLE TO 9 MILES NORTH OF CENTREVILLE TO 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRENT...AND MOVING EAST AT 8 MPH.* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WEST CENTREVILLE...TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST...BRIERFIELD IRONWORKS PARK

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Southern Tuscaloosa

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
353 PM CDT SAT JUN 14 2008
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... NORTH CENTRAL BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... SOUTHEASTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...* UNTIL 430 PM CDT*

AT 344 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ABERNANT... OR 13 MILES WEST OF BESSEMER. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BULL CITYWINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOMEDAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO SMALLER STRUCTURES.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Bibb

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
353 PM CDT SAT JUN 14 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... NORTH CENTRAL BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... SOUTHEASTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...* UNTIL 430 PM CDT*

AT 344 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ABERNANT... OR 13 MILES WEST OF BESSEMER. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BULL CITYWINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOMEDAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO SMALLER STRUCTURES

Severe Thunderstorm Warming Tuscaloosa

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF NORTHPORT...
UNTIL 400 PM CDT *

AT 321 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM TO 7 MILES EAST OF SAMANTHA TO 9 MILES WEST OF SAMANTHA...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16 MILES NORTHEAST OF HOLT TO 11 MILES NORTH OF HOLT TO 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF GORDO...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 6 MPH. * OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAKE LURLEEN STATE PARK AND COKER WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOME DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO SMALLER STRUCTURES.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL258 PM CDT SAT JUN 14 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... NORTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...* UNTIL 330 PM CDT*

AT 249 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 14 MILES NORTH OF SAMANTHA TO 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAMANTHA...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 17 MILES EAST OF FAYETTE TO 14 MILES SOUTH OF FAYETTE...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 11 MPH.* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WINDHAM SPRINGS AND WHITSON.WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS

Climate Fact: Tanganyika Troubles

One of the most important sources of animal protein in East Africa is being threatened by rising temperatures. Over the past few decades, the average air temperature in the region around Africa’s Lake Tanganyika (which sits on the borders of Congo, Zambia, Tanzania and Burundi) has warmed by about one degree Fahrenheit. This has corresponded to an increase in the Lake’s surface temperature and a decrease in the average regional wind velocity. These trends have made the water in the Lake more stable. This means that there is less mixing, which moves nutrients around in the water and prevents them from settling on the lake bottom, where they are inaccessible to most life. The recent slow-down in water movement has resulted in a decrease in available nutrients and 20 percent decline in the total mass of phytoplankton, tiny organisms that use the sun’s energy to build bodies out of these nutrients and ultimately feed all other life in the Lake. This decline in phytoplankton mass has translated into a 30 percent decline in the fish yields that come out of the lake. Until recently, Lake Tanganyika supplied 25 to 40 percent of the animal protein consumed by the populations in the four countries it borders.

(Source: O’Reilly, CM et al. “Climate change decreases aquatic ecosystem productivity of Lake Tanganyika, Africa.” Nature 424 (2003): 766-768.)

Latest U.S. Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts during the past week were generally below average across the southern half of Central Alabama...while the northern half of the area received above normal rainfall. However...there has been little change in the drought situation across Central Alabama. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor indicates D2 Severe to D3 Extreme Drought conditions north and east of a line from near Haleyville to Gordo to Uniontown to Lowndesboro to Auburn. Remaining areas to the south and west are in D0 Abnormally Dry to D1 Moderate Drought conditions.

The Drought Monitor classifies drought within one of these five categories:

D0...Abnormally Dry
D1...Moderate Drought
D2...Severe Drought
D3...Extreme Drought
D4...Exceptional Drought

Rainfall averaged one to three inches north of a line from near Vernon to Lafayette during the past week. Areas south of this line generally received less than an inch of rain. So far in May... rainfall has averaged from one and a half to four inches...although areas in extreme Southeast Alabama around Troy have received less than an inch. For the year...rainfall has averaged from seventeen to twenty five inches. For the month of May...average rainfall is from four and one quarter to four and three quarter inches.
Some precipitation amounts for Central Alabama from January 1st through May 14th:(For up to the most recent climate report...click on the city.)
Birmingham
22.88
Montgomery
17.11
Anniston
18.50
Tuscaloosa
19.05
Calera
25.09
Troy
19.50

SUMMERTIME LIKE T'STORMS (THU-SUN)

SUMMERTIME LIKE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAYAFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THE BEST CHANCE FOR THESE STORMS WILL BE DURING THE PEAK HEATING OF THE DAY.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
520 AM CDT TUE MAY 20 2008

ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS A WEAK SURFACE BOUNDARY MOVES SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE AREA. THE SEVERE THREAT AREA WILL GENERALLY BE ALONG AND EAST OF I-65. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

Earth Gauge: Beneficial Biking

According to the 2006 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, 84 percent of Alabama residents drove to work alone, less than one percent used public transportation, and two percent walked or used another alternate form of transportation. Choosing alternative transportation - walking, biking, or using transit - can save a typical work commuter about 600 dollars and 1200 miles on their car each year. It also helps alleviate traffic congestion, saves time, and protects air quality.

May is Bike to Work Month, this is Bike to Work Week, and today is Bike to Work Day - the perfect time to try two-wheeling to work! Research has shown that the length of about half of all car trips – three miles – can be covered as quickly on a bike when parking and traffic delays are taken into account.

Learn more about Bike to Work Week, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/.
Get bicycle safety tips from the Federal Highway Administration: http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/education/resource/fhwa.html.

Weather is not cooperating? Try a new bus route, hop on the train, or call a friend to carpool.

(Sources: US Census, American Fact Finder. Alabama: Selected Housing Characteristics, 2006. factfinder.census.gov; It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air: Alternate Modes of Transportation. http://www.italladdsup.gov/pdfs/fall/2006Fall_ConsumerFactSheet.doc; League of American Bicyclists. "Ride for the Environment." http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/why/environment.php; McKay, K. and J. Bonnin. “True Green: 100 Everyday Ways You Can Contribute to A Healthier Planet.” The National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.)

Work Week Outlook

ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE UNTIL 9 PM MAINLY FOR AREAS NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20. MOST AREAS WILL REMAIN DRY...BUT ONE OR TWO STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS A SURFACE FRONT MOVES SOUTHWARD AND STALLS ACROSS THE AREA. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND HAIL. AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

Outlook Sunday-Friday

ISOLATED...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY...MAINLY BETWEEN NOON AND 9 PM. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL.STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...AND AGAIN THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE STRAIGHT-LINE WIND DAMAGE AND LARGE HAIL. THE STORMS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER SLOW MOVING SURFACE BOUNDARY...WHILE DAYTIME HEATING WILL BE THE MAIN TRIGGER THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

Outdoor Weekend Festivites Are On!

Finally, a weekend with nice weather!

If headed out to the Regions Charity Classic today, clouds will gradually dissapate allowing for partly cloudy skies by the afternoon hours. Temperatures will top out below average for this time of year with highs climbing to the low 70 to mid 70's by late afternoon.

Are you going to Art on the Rocks tonight? If so, take a light wrap or jacket as temperatures will fall quickly under clear skies. Lows tonight will fall to the upper 40's to low 50's.

Nice conditions will prevail on Saturday so get outdoors and enjoy. If your going to Sloss Furnace for some barbeque or taking your pet to Doo Dah Day you will have some great spring time weather. We will start the morning off on the chilly side, but with mostly sunny skies across central Alabama temperatures will warm up quickly. Highs will top out right in the upper 70's to low 80's

If you have outdoor plans on Sunday, try to get them in during the first half of the day as a slight chance of showers and storms return by the afternoon.

Weekend Outlook

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. LINGERING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 85...MAINLY DURING THE MORNING HOURS ON FRIDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE AS WAVES OF SHOWERS ANDTHUNDERSTORMS ALONG A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALABAMA SUNDAYAFTERNOON AS A BOUNDARY MOVES DOWN FROM THE NORTH AND STALLS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

530 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY AND TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THROUGHOUT TODAY AND INTO TONIGHT...THE GREATEST THREAT APPEARS TO BE BETWEEN 1 PM AND 7 PM...AS A CLUSTER OF STORMS MOVES ACROSS THE STATE. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.HOWEVER...THERE IS STILL A SMALL CHANCE THAT AN ISOLATED OR EMBEDDED SUPERCELL COULD DEVELOP...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING.

LINGERING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 85...MAINLY DURING THE MORNING HOURS ON FRIDAY.LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE AS WAVES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
526 AM CDT WED MAY 14 2008

DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT ACROSS WESTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE STRONG TO DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL...WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THURSDAY. THE CHANCE OF STRONG STORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO EARLY FRIDAY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 85. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. SEVERAL PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL COULD ALSO LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

Mother's Day Severe Weather Outbreak - May 10th & 11th, 2008

Event Summary for Central Alabama - Surveys are still underway.

Severe weather developed late Saturday evening, May 10th, across Central Alabama and continued into the early morning hours on Mother's Day, May 11th. Damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes, continuous lightning and minor flooding were all produced by these thunderstorms.

A warm front moved very slowly northward through Central Alabama on May 10th. The atmosphere in the vicinity of the front and southward was extremely unstable. Additionally, moisture was pooling along and south of the front. On Saturday, warm air just above the surface, referred to as a cap, limited the strength and overall development of thunderstorms for much of the day. An upper level disturbance moved from west to east over Central Alabama late Saturday evening into early Sunday morning. This disturbance had several effects which aided the development of much stronger and more widespread thunderstorms. This disturbance eroded the cap, produced much stronger winds just above the surface, and pushed a cold front through the region. Therefore, the overall environment was characterized by high wind shear and moderate capes. This severe episode was highlighted in the Birmingham Hazardous Weather Outlook several days before the event.

Tornado Watches were in effect for portions of Central Alabama between 700 pm and 800 am May 10th into May11th.

Identified damage paths;

EF-1 Marion County Tornado
EF-1 Heflin Tornado - Cleburne County
EF-1 Cleburne County Tornado
Straight Line Wind Damage - Winston County
Preliminary Local Storm Reports

New Air Quality Alert Product

Effective Thursday, May 15, 2008, at 4:00 AM CDT (0800 UTC), a new communications identifier will be implemented for all non-routine Air Quality Alert Messages (AQA) issued by the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Birmingham, Alabama (WFO BMX). WFO BMX will begin relaying air quality alerts from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) under the AWIPS ID of AQABMX / WMO Header AEUS74 KBMX, and discontinue relaying these alerts under AWIPS ID AQIBMX. The product type line in the mass news disseminator header block will be Air Quality Alert Message.

The AQA is an event-driven product. It is issued when the Alabama Department of Environmental Management relays messages which meet or exceed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for poor air quality for the Birmingham area.

Earth Gauge: Recovering Rainwater

Just how much water is flowing out of your home downspouts during a typical rain storm? When about one-inch of rain falls over a 24-hour period, a typical home roof (about 1200 square feet) will shed more than 700 gallons of water. When that water hits the lawn or pavement, much of it runs off of your property and into the storm drain, carrying any pollutants picked up along the way. Water that enters storm drains typically drains to a nearby river or stream, untreated.

Put rain water to use by installing a rain barrel, which attaches to your home downspout to collect and store water from your roof that would otherwise run off your property. Experts estimate that a home rain barrel can save about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak water-use summer months, when collected rain water can be used for lawn and garden watering, window and car washing, and other outdoor uses. If every single-unit home in Alabama added a rain barrel, we would save more than 1.8 billion gallons of water!

Building a rain barrel is an easy and fun do-it-yourself project. The materials can be picked-up at your local home improvement store, and the Center for Watershed Protection offers step-by-step assembly instructions: http://www.cwp.org/Community_Watersheds/brochure.pdf. You can also purchase ready-made rain barrels in some communities - check with your local watershed group or online.

(Sources: The Center for Watershed Protection. "How to Build and Install a Rain Barrel." http://www.cwp.org/Community_Watersheds/brochure.pdf; Rain Gardens of West Michigan. "Rain Barrels: Saving Rain for a Sunny Day." http://www.raingardens.org/Rain_Barrels.php; US Census, American Fact Finder. Alabama: Selected Housing Characteristics, 2006. factfinder.census.gov)

WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7PM SUNDAY

WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE MORNING WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH LASTING THROUGH SUNSET. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECTFOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2AM

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 300 IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM CDT SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ALABAMA. THIS WATCH INCLUDES 18 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL ALABAMA: BLOUNT, JEFFERSON, SHELBY, ST. CLAIR, TALLADEGA, WALKER , CALHOUN, CLAY, CLEBURNE, ETOWAH, WINSTON, FAYETTE, LAMAR, PICKENS AND TUSCALOOSA.

MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER TONIGHT/TOMORROW MORNING

MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER, MAINLY TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING AROUND NOON. MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS, LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. SINCE THIS SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING THROUGH DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR SEVERE WEATHER PLAN READY TO GO WITH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO CLOSE BY.

Potential for Severe Wx This Afternoon through Sunday around Noon

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA...INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE MAIN THREAT WILL COME MAINLY AFTER 8 PM THIS EVENING IN RESPONSE TO AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS EXISTS ACROSS THE AREA AND ANY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP DURING THE HEATING OF THE DAY...HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE STRONG TO SEVERE. HOWEVER...THE MORE ORGANIZED WIDESPREAD CONVECTION AND POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER WILL OCCUR LATER TONIGHT.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES...ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH NOON ON SUNDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. THE GREATEST THREAT AREA WILL BE EAST OF THE INTERSTATE 65 CORRIDOR. THIS SEVERE THREAT WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH. FINALLY...THERE IS A RISK OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALLOF CENTRAL ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. FORECAST CONFIDENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM IS RATHER LOW AT THIS POINT. IF CONFIDENCE LATER INCREASES...THEN A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT MAY NEED TO BE INTRODUCED IN LATER OUTLOOKS.

THREAT FOR SEVERE WX SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND A STRONG COLD FRONT IS FORECAST FOR SATURDAY INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON SUNDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. THE STALLED SYSTEM WILL BE IN PLACE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY...WHILE THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO AREA DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS LIKELY TO PERSIST FROM THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS ON SATURDAY THROUGH 6 AM ON SUNDAY.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BIRMINGHAM AL500 AM CDT
FRI MAY 9 2008ALZ011>015-017>050-101000-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-

500 AM CDT FRI MAY 9 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THENATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM..

DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY ALONG A SLOW MOVINGBOUNDARY. THE MAIN THREATS WITH ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BESTRONG DAMAGING WINDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH AND LARGE HAIL.
STORMS SHOULD BEGIN DEVELOPING NORTH OF THE AREA AROUND NOON AND SLOWLYMOVE AND DEVELOP FURTHER SOUTH ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 AFTER 2 PM.
THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG STORMS WILL PERSIST MAINLY AFTER 7 PM FORAREAS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20. THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL..

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
A STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND A STRONG COLD FRONT IS FORECAST FOR SATURDAY INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON SUNDAY. SEVERETHUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE MAINTHREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. THE STALLED SYSTEM WILL BE IN PLACE THROUGH MUCHOF THE DAY ON SATURDAY...WHILE THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO AREADURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.
THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS LIKELY TO PERSIST FROM THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS ON SATURDAY THROUGH 6 AM ON SUNDAY.

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0821

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0821
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1213 PM CDT THU MAY 08 2008

AREAS AFFECTED...E CNTRL MS INTO W CNTRL AL

CONCERNING...TORNADO WATCH 277...

VALID 081713Z - 081845Z

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR TORNADO WATCH 277 CONTINUES.

AN ADDITIONAL WW PROBABLY WILL BE NEEDED EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

CONVECTIVE CELLS CONTINUE TO SLOWLY DEEPEN ACROSS SOUTHWEST THROUGH
EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...ALONG/JUST AHEAD OF THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF
ONGOING SQUALL LINE NOW ADVANCING TOWARD THE UPPER TENNESSEE VALLEY.
THE BOUNDARY LAYER INSTABILITY IS STILL RATHER MODEST... ON THE
ORDER OF 1000 J/KG...AND THIS...COUPLED WITH SUBSIDENCE WARMING
ALOFT...IS SLOWING STORM INTENSIFICATION. LATEST RUC GUIDANCE NOW
SUGGESTS THAT INHIBITION FOR BOUNDARY LAYER PARCELS IS SMALL ACROSS
MUCH OF CENTRAL/SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. BUT...POTENTIAL
FOR VIGOROUS STORM INITIATION SEEMS MOST PROBABLE ACROSS EAST
CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA...WHERE MID-LEVEL
TEMPERATURES REMAIN COOLER ASSOCIATED WITH LINGERING INFLUENCE OF
UPPER IMPULSE NOW LIFTING THROUGH KENTUCKY/TENNESSEE. THIS STILL
APPEARS POSSIBLE NEAR/NORTH OF MERIDIAN INTO AREAS NEAR/SOUTH OF
TUSCALOOSA/BIRMINGHAM BY 18-19Z. AND...WITHIN THE PRESENCE OF
STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR AND LARGE CLOCKWISE CURVED LOW-LEVEL
HODOGRAPHS NEAR A 40-50 KT LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS...THE RISK FOR
DISCRETE SUPERCELLS WITH TORNADOES WILL INCREASE. ISOLATED STRONG
TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE.

Mesoscale Discussion

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0820
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1007 AM CDT THU MAY 08 2008

AREAS AFFECTED...NRN MS...CNTRL/NRN AL INTO MIDDLE/ERN TN

CONCERNING...TORNADO WATCH 277...

VALID 081507Z - 081630Z

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR TORNADO WATCH 277 CONTINUES.

AN ADDITIONAL WW MAY BE NEEDED BY EARLY AFTERNOON TO INCLUDE MUCH OF
CENTRAL AND THE REMAINDER OF NORTHERN ALABAMA.

AS WEAKENING MID-LEVEL CIRCULATION CONTINUES TO LIFT EAST NORTHEAST
OF THE OZARK PLATEAU INTO THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY...THE TENDENCY WILL
BE FOR ASSOCIATED STRONGER MID-LEVEL FORCING TO SPREAD ACROSS THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY TOWARD THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. LOW-LEVEL
ENVIRONMENT ACROSS NORTHWEST GEORGIA/NORTHEAST ALABAMA INTO EASTERN
TENNESSEE REMAINS DRY...AND INCREASING PRECIPITATION NEXT FEW HOURS
MAY MAINTAIN A STABLE BOUNDARY LAYER ACROSS THIS REGION.

AT THE SAME TIME...A WARMING...SUBSIDENT MID-LEVEL REGIME MAY BECOME
INCREASINGLY SUPPRESSIVE OF CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT TO THE WEST/SOUTH
OF ONGOING NARROW FRONTAL SQUALL LINE...WHICH MODELS SUGGEST WILL
ADVANCE INTO AREAS WEST OF FLORENCE AL/COLUMBUS MS BY 17-18Z. RISK
FOR LARGE HAIL/DAMAGING WIND GUSTS MAY BECOME THE MOST PROMINENT
SEVERE THREAT WITH THIS LINE.

LONGER TERM SEVERE THREAT WITH ISOLATED SUPER CELLULAR ACTIVITY IN
WARM ADVECTION REGIME DOWNSTREAM OF SQUALL LINE IS MORE UNCERTAIN AS
IT LIFTS EAST NORTHEAST OF FLORENCE/MUSCLE SHOALS...INTO A MORE
STABLE BOUNDARY LAYER ACROSS SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE THE NEXT FEW
HOURS. BUT...LATEST RUC GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTIVE THAT INHIBITION MAY
BECOME WEAK ENOUGH WITH DAYTIME HEATING TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL
ISOLATED CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS CENTRAL/NORTHERN ALABAMA BY
18-19Z. IF THIS OCCURS...DEEP LAYER SHEAR IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH
MIXED LAYER CAPE IN EXCESS OF 1000 J/KG WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR
SUPERCELLS. AND...LOW-LEVEL HODOGRAPHS BENEATH A 40-50 KT
SOUTHWESTERLY LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS WILL BE LARGE AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE
POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES.

Hazardous Weather Outlook - Thursday, May 08, 2008

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
500 AM CDT THU MAY 8 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY AS A STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY 10 AM IN THE WEST...AND CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY...EXITING THE EASTERN COUNTIES AROUND 9 PM. THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH AND LARGE HAIL. AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES.


SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL WINDS AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF INSTABILITY IN PLACE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ARE FAVORABLE FOR SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF A STRONG TO SEVERE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS. GIVEN THE NOTED CONDITIONS...SOME SUPERCELLS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE LONG TRACKED. THE MOST FAVORABLE AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELLS WILL BE ACROSS THE NORTHERN TWO THIRDS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

BREEZY CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STORM SYSTEM HAS PROMPTED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE AREA FROM 10 AM THROUGH 7PM. WINDS WILL BE 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS 25 TO 30 MPH.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.

A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH ON SUNDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. THE TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THIS SYSTEM REMAIN UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME...BUT THE SYSTEM APPEARS SIGNIFICANT WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF SEVERE STORMS FROM THE EARLY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.

World Asthma Day

May is Asthma Awareness Month!

The Environmental Protection Agency has designated May as Asthma Awareness Month, with May 6th being World Asthma Day, an event sponsored by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Pollen and air pollution, particularly ground level ozone, are important outdoor triggers of asthma symptoms. In the United States, an estimated 22 million people, including 6.5 million children, have asthma. Each year, asthma attacks in the United States result in:

-two million emergency room visits;
-sixteen billion dollars worth of lost productivity and health care costs; and
-thirteen million missed school days.

Because pollen counts are at or nearing their peak in most areas, and because we're entering peak ground level ozone season, this is a great time to give viewers simple tips to help them reduce their exposure to potential asthma triggers. Dry and windy days are usually the worst for pollen counts, and changes in weather conditions, especially abrupt changes, can trigger asthma symptoms. Because most pollens are released in the morning, susceptible individuals should avoid outdoor activities between 5:00 and 10:00 AM. Outdoor activities should also be avoided when ground level ozone concentrations and particulate pollution levels are high. Encourage your viewers to stay informed by watching pollen and air quality reports from local media. Before heading outside, they can also visit www.airnow.gov to check on local air quality, and www.pollen.com to view local pollen counts. Remaining in a clean, indoor, air-conditioned environment where filters remove most pollutants and pollens is recommended for asthmatics on days when conditions are conducive to asthma symptoms.

For more information on Asthma Awareness Month, including a list of events near you, visit: http://www.epa.gov/asthma/awm/index.html.

Information on Asthma Awareness Day can be accessed at: http://www.ginasthma.com/WADIndex.asp

Additional information about allergies and asthma can be found at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology: http://www.aaaai.org/

Hazardous Weather Outlook

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ON THURSDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. MOST OF THESE STORMS WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 11 AM AND 7 PM...OR MAINLY DURING THE HEATING OF THE DAY. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE STRONG WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...ALTHOUGH ISOLATED TORNADOES COULD NOT BE RULED OUT.

A SECOND COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH ON SUNDAY. A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. THE TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THIS SYSTEM IS STILL UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME.

Earth Gauge: Slow the Flow

Each year, an estimated four billion tons of precious topsoil are lost from America's croplands. When soils make their way into rivers and streams, they can harm aquatic life and impair our drinking water. Additionally, soils can reduce the depth of navigable rivers, and clog reservoirs, which can harm power generation and water supplies. On farmlands, the immediate consequences of erosion can include lower crop yields, increased nitrogen and phosphorous loss, and reduced water-holding capacity, which can increase fertilizer and irrigation costs.

The key to controlling erosion from rain water is to slow the flow of water over agricultural land. If you have cropland that is located on a slope, consider planting your crops across the slope (instead of with the slope), and alternating row crops with forage crops, such as grasses. Planting strips of grasses at regular intervals among row crops forces the flowing water to slow down, which will allow soils carried by the water to settle instead of washing away.

(Sources: United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. "A Farmer's Guide to Agriculture and Water Quality Issues." Accessed Online 27 March 2008 <http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/wq/wqp/wetlands/wetfactsheets.html>)

Dry through Mid-Week

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ONTHURSDAY...ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE AREA.

Strong to Severe T'Storms Possible on Saturday

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE BY NOON TODAY. WIND GUSTS OVER 20 MPH ARE EXPECTED...ESPECIALLY WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. A LAKE WINDADVISORY IS IN EFFECT..DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 65...FROM AROUND 2 PM TO 8PM FRIDAY.THERE IS A GREATER CHANCE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING THE TREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA FROM 8AM SATURDAY MORNING UNTIL 8 PM SATURDAY EVENING.

Outlook for Friday/Saturday

A HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL BE IN PLACE ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN CENTRAL ALABAMA GENERALLY SOUTH AND EAST OF AN ALEXANDER CITY TO SELMA LINE. WITH WARMER TEMPERATURES AND THE DRY AIRMASS IN PLACE...RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL FALL BELOW 25 PERCENT FOR AT LEAST 4 HOURS IN THIS AREA. OUTDOOR BURNING IS DISCOURAGED.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE DURING THE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY ASWELL AS FRIDAY. WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE 10 TO 20 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FRIDAYAFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY AS A STORM SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. THE MAIN THREAT IS DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

Red Flag Warning for Coosa, Clay and Chilton

AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. WITH A DRY AIRMASS IN PLACE...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL TO...OR JUST BELOW 25PERCENT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL CREATE A HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM DEMOPOLIS TO WEDOWEE.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE IN THE UPPER 70S TOLOW 80S ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. WITH A DRYAIRMASS IN PLACE...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL TO...OR JUST BELOW 25 PERCENT FOR SEVERAL HOURS DURING THE AFTERNOON...CREATING A HIGH FIRE DANGER. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY AS A STORM SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE ALONG AND AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY MORNING. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE PRIMARY THREATS WITH THIS SYSTEM.

Showers and Thunderstorms Possible later this Week

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGHSATURDAY AFTERNOON AS A STORM SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH THE AREA.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

1133 AM CDT SAT APR 26 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAINLY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 1 PM AND 8PM. WHILE THE THREAT OF STRONG STORMS IS POSSIBLE JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE...THE MORE UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL GENERALLY BE SOUTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR. THE MAIN THREAT ACCOMPANYING ANY STRONG STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL BE FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES...SMALL HAIL...AND WINDS GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS AREAS WEST OF I-65 FROM 3PM SUNDAY THROUGH MIDNIGHT SUNDAY NIGHT. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY ANYWHERE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY NIGHT. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

A STRONG COLD FRONT AND UPPER LEVEL IMPULSE WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA SUNDAY NIGHT. AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM...A VERY WARM AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY NIGHT.

Earth Gauge: Water Well

From 1950 to 2000, population size in the U.S. nearly doubled, and during that same time period, demand for water tripled! The EPA estimates that typical surburban households use about 30 percent of their water for outdoor irrigation. Unfortunately, about half of the water used outdoors is wasted through evaporation on warm days or runoff from overwatering.

Save money and water by switching your irrigation system off when there is rain in the forecast. You can also add a rain sensor to your sprinkler system, which will automatically shut the system off when adequate rain has fallen. It's estimated that weather-based controls, such as rain sensors, can save up to 24 billion gallons of water per year in the U.S. - that's equivalent to 7,000 hoses running continuously for a year!

Thinking of installing a new irrigation system? Consider a drip watering system, which uses up to 50 percent less water than traditional sprinklers, and loses virtually no water through evaporation, wind, or runoff.

(Sources: US EPA. "WaterSense." http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.htm; Consumer Reports. "Home and Garden: Water Wisely." http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/resource-center/lawn-care-5-08/water-wisely/lawn-care-water-wisely.htm)

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED EAST OF INTERSTATE 65 THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG NORTH OF INTERSTATE 85. SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE 1 PM THROUGH8 PM. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS ALSO A CONCERN...ESPECIALLY GIVEN TH EOUTDOOR EVENTS ONGOING IN THE STATE.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ON SATURDAY...MAINLY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF NOON AND 8 PM. WHILE THE THREAT OF STRONG STORMS IS POSSIBLE JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE EARLY IN THE DAY...THE MAIN THREAT AREA WILL SHIFT MORE INTO THE SOUTH HALF OFALABAMA AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. THE MAIN THREAT ACCOMPANYING ANY STRONG STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL BE FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES...SMALL HAIL...AND WINDS GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

Weekend Outlook

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA FRIDAY AFTERNOON. ANY STORMS THAT DO FORM HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME STRONG...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONTMOVES INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THEN STALLS. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THE BEST CHANCES FOR STRONG STORMS ON SATURDAY WILL OCCUR DURING THE HEATING OF THE AFTERNOON AND POTENTIALLY LAST INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. THE MAIN THREAT ACCOMPANYING ANY STRONG STORM WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH.

ON SUNDAY...ADDITIONAL UPPER LEVEL ENERGY WILL SHIFT ACROSS NORTHERN ALABAMA RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG STORMS. ONCE AGAIN...SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...UP TO 40 MPH...ALONG WITH LIGHTNING WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. STRONG STORMS ON SUNDAY LOOK MOST LIKELY ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

Strong T'Storms Possible this Weekend

ALTHOUGH ONLY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON...THE STORMS THAT DO FORM WILL POTENTIALLY BE STRONG. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THEN STALLS. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THE BEST CHANCES FOR STRONG STORMS ON SATURDAY WILL OCCUR DURING THE HEATING OF THE AFTERNOON AND POTENTIALLY LAST INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. THE MAIN THREAT ACCOMPANYING ANY STRONG STORM WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH.

ON SUNDAY...ADDITIONAL UPPER LEVEL ENERGY WILL SHIFT ACROSS NORTHERN ALABAMA RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG STORMS. ONCE AGAIN...SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...UP TO 40 MPH...ALONG WITH LIGHTNING WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. STRONG STORMS ON SUNDAY LOOK MOST LIKELY ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

What is a Mesoscale Convective System?

According to the National Weather Service, a mesoscale convective system (MCS) is a complex of thunderstorms which becomes organized on a scale larger than the individual thunderstorms, and normally persists for several hours or more. Mesoscale convective systems may be round or linear in shape, and include systems such as tropical cyclones and lines of thunderstorms called squall lines and often form near weather fronts.

MCS's have been noted across North America and Europe, with a maximum in activity during the late afternoon and evening hours during the warm season (i.e. late spring and summer) on both continents. Mesoscale Convective Systems over the Plains of the United States bring the region about half of their annual warm season rainfall.

EARTH DAY 2008!

It's going to be a beautiful forecast for Earth Day! Get outside and enjoy this nice weather while helping the environment. Here are some helpful tips on how you can recycle and make better environmental choices.

Remember the 3 R’s: Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.

**When you cut your grass, allow the clippings to stay on the lawn. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally.
**Proper maintenance reduces waste. Keep appliances in good working order by maintaining and repairing them.
**Reuse certain produce to reducing waste. Give pet hamsters or gerbils cardboard toilet paper holders to play with. Use an egg carton to plant seedlings.
**Take reusable bags on shopping trips. Keep them in your car or near your door to remember. You can also reuse paper or plastic shopping bags.
**Don’t fertilize before a rain storm. Your fertilizer - along with your money - washes down storm drains and can pollute rivers and bays.
**When properly composted, kitchen wastes can become natural soil additives for lawns, gardens, and even house plants.
**Before you go, unplug your VCR or other electronics that use electricity even when "off."

Make Good Environmental Choices!

**During the summer months, always apply sun block SPF 15 or more to protect your skin from solar UV radiation.
**Be extra aware of conditions where older people live. As we age, our bodies become more sensitive to chemicals and environmental conditions.
**Use pesticides safely, whether at home or in the field. Always follow the instructions on the can or container label.
**During hot weather, don't top off your gas tank. Even a small gas spill adds to air pollution and wastes fuel.
**You can reduce polluted storm water runoff -- simply pick up your pet’s waste; don't leave it to wash away after a rain.
**Celebrate Earth Day! Exercising outdoors? Use your local air quality forecast to help plan the best time for a workout or run.
**On unhealthy air pollution "action alert" days, wait to mow your lawn until it's cooler in the evening or early the next morning.
**Protect children from poisoning by household chemicals such as bug spray. Lock pesticides and chemicals safely away from children.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

810 PM CDT MON APR 21 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.
.
DAY ONE...TONIGHT.
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES
INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THE STRONG STORMS
WILL MOST LIKELY OCCUR DURING THE HEATING OF THE DAY AND POTENTIALLY
LAST INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. THE MAIN THREAT ACCOMPANYING ANY
STRONG STORM WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...AND
GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH. CONFIDENCE ON THE COLD FRONT TIMING AND
OVERALL STRENGTH OF THE STORMS IS LOW.

SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT
ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

Work Week Outlook

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVESTHROUGH THE AREA. THE TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THIS SYSTEM IS TOO UNCERTAIN TO PROVIDE DETAILS AT THIS TIME.

Pollen Forecast: April 21, 2008

Today 7.8 (Medium) on a scale of 0-12
4/22/2008 8.2 (High) on a scale of 0-12
4/23/2008 8.7 (High) on a scale of 0-12
4/24/2008 8.8 (High) on a scale of 0-12

Today's predominant pollen:Oak, Cedar/Juniper and Sycamore.

---Technical Discussion---Based on past pollen counts and expected weather conditions, pollen levels for Tuesday will be increasing in the high range. This increase is due to rising temperatures.

Learn more about this month's featured pollen:

---Did You Know?---The first modern pollen measurements began in the 1870s. A British physician named Blackley developed a device to help him study grass pollen, enabling him to determine that they are an important cause of hay fever.

---Allergy Tip---Washable curtains and window shades may be a wiser choice than heavy draperies for those wishing to avoid allergens in the home.

Earth Gauge: Just Passing Through

Birds are on the move! Migratory birds have amazing adaptations that help them find their way from their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central, and South America, to the U.S. and Canada, where they feast on abundant insects and plant foods during spring and summer. How do they know when to leave and where to go?

- Birds that fly long distances have an "internal clock" that tells them when it's time to prepare for migration and be on their way. Scientists think that subtle environmental cues (which are not well-understood in wintering grounds) trigger hormonal production in birds, which causes changes in behavior and physiology that prepare them for migration.

- Birds that migrate short distances (such as within the U.S.), including most waterfowl, learn migration routes and breeding areas from older individuals who are more experienced - usually their family members. On the other hand, most long-distance migrants are "genetically programmed" to head in a specific direction, for a specific distance. A bird's first long-distance migration is completely genetically-determined, but more experienced birds may incorporate information they've learned on the journey into their migration route. For example, if a bird finds a breeding location that is especially good, they may use learned information to return to that location in future years.

There are still many mysteries surrounding bird migration, but one thing is certain: birds need habitat and fuel to help them along their way. In the Southern U.S., scarlet tanagers, Eastern wood peewees, and yellow-billed cuckoos are passing through over the next couple weeks. A bird bath or water hole with fresh water will be welcome sight for migrants, and providing a varied supply of seeds and plants in your yard will attract a variety of feathered visitors at any time of year. Enjoy the view!

Regional migrant information was provided by the National Wildlife Federation. For more about migrants in your area, visit www.enature.com/birding/migration_home.asp.

(Source: Deinlein, M. "Neotropical Migratory Bird Basics." Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Migratory Bird Center. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Fact_Sheets/default.cfm?fxsht=9)

Light Quake Felt in North Huntsville

Earthquake Details for Illinois Quake

Magnitude
5.4
Date-Time
Friday, April 18, 2008 at 09:36:57 UTC
Friday, April 18, 2008 at 04:36:57 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
38.481°N, 87.826°W
Depth
5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region
ILLINOIS
Distances
9 km (6 miles) NW (326°) from Mount Carmel, IL
11 km (7 miles) WSW (242°) from Allendale, IL
13 km (8 miles) NE (34°) from Bellmont, IL
61 km (38 miles) NNW (337°) from Evansville, IN
211 km (131 miles) E (94°) from St. Louis, MO
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 3.7 km (2.3 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters
NST=101, Nph=101, Dmin=36.8 km, Rmss=0.87 sec, Gp= 61°,M-type=moment magnitude (Mw), Version=9

This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

Earthquake Magnitude Scale
2.5 to 5.4
Often felt, but only causes minor damage.
Earthquake Magnitude Classes

Earthquakes are also classified in categories ranging from minor to great, depending on their magnitude.
Class

Class/Magnitude
Great: 8 or more
Major: 7 - 7.9
Strong: 6 - 6.9
Moderate: 5 - 5.9
Light: 4 - 4.9
Minor: 3 -3.9

Showers and Thunderstorms Likely Tonight

A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20FRIDAY NIGHT...AS A COLD FRONT MOVES FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL

Friday Storms

A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT AS A COLD FRONT MOVES FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALLHAIL.

Friday Outlook

A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.THESE STORMS WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT MOVING ACROSSCENTRAL ALABAMA. THERE REMAINS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TIMING AND STRENGTH REGARDING THIS SYSTEM. STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE UPDATES.

Frost Advisory

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE-MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CARROLLTON...TUSCALOOSA...BIRMINGHAM...HOOVER...COLUMBIANA...PELHAM...ALABASTER...LIVINGSTON...EUTAW...GREENSBORO...MOUNDVILLE...MARION...CENTREVILLE...CLANTON...DEMOPOLIS...LINDEN...SELMA...PRATTVILLE...FORT DEPOSIT...HAYNEVILLE...WETUMPKA...TALLASSEE...MONTGOMERY...TUSKEGEE...UNION SPRINGS...AUBURN...OPELIKA...PHENIX CITY...TROY...EUFAULA

A FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY.

A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT FROST IS POSSIBLE.

SENSITIVE OUTDOOR PLANTS MAY BE THREATENED IF LEFT UNCOVERED.

Freeze Warning

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A FREEZEWARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY.

OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE LOWER 30S IN MANYLOCATIONS ACROSS NORTHERN AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA BY MORNING.

FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL LAST ONLY A FEW HOURS IN THESE COLDER LOCATIONS...TO JUST BRIEFLY IN WARMER LOCATIONS.

EVEN WHERE TEMPERATURES DO NOT FALL BELOW FREEZING, FROST IS EXPECTED.

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS CAN KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

Freeze Watch Tonight into Wednesday Morning

FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGHWEDNESDAY MORNING......FREEZE WARNING HAS EXPIRED...THE FREEZE WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A FREEZE WATCH REMAINSIN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE LOWER 30S IN MANYLOCATIONS BY MORNING...WITH TEMPERATURES IN SOME OF THE PROTECTEDAND NORMALLY COLDER LOCATIONS FALLING INTO THE UPPER 20S. FREEZINGTEMPERATURES WILL LAST ONLY A FEW HOURS IN THESE COLDERLOCATIONS...TO JUST BRIEFLY IN WARMER LOCATIONS. EVEN WHERETEMPERATURES DO NOT FALL BELOW FREEZING...PATCHY FROST ISEXPECTED.A FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE.THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

Freezing Temps Possible Again Tonight

FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT MAINLY FOR EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...ESPECIALLY IN THE LOW LYING AREAS...VALLEYS AND THE USUAL COLD SPOTS. THE DURATION OF THE NEAR FREEZING TEMPERATURESWILL BE RATHER SHORT...ONLY LASTING A FEW HOURS. IN ADDITION...PATCHY FROST WILL BE POSSIBLE AREA WIDE. PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE VEGETATION WILL MOST LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR ONE MORE NIGHT.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY MORNING IN EASTCENTRAL ALABAMA...BUT WILL QUICKLY WARM UP AFTER 7 AM.A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THESE STORMS WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THIS SYSTEM IS STILL INQUESTION.

Freeze Watch in Effect Tonight through Tuesday Morning

A FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. NORTHERLY WINDS WILL BE SUSTAINED AROUND 15 MPH THIS AFTERNOON WITH A FEW GUSTS AROUND 25 MPH. OVERNIGHT LOWS MAY DROP TO THE FREEZING MARK OR JUST BELOW ON TUESDAY MORNING. FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY LAST FORA FEW HOURS AROUND SUNRISE. IN ADDITION...PATCHY FROST MAY ALSO DEVELOP. A FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE. THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

Lake Wind Advisory in Effect Noon-6pm

Pollen Forecast: April 14, 2008

Today 9.4 (High) on a scale of 0-12
4/15/2008 6.6 (Medium) on a scale of 0-12
4/16/2008 8.0 (Medium) on a scale of 0-12

Today's predominant pollen:Oak, Cedar/Juniper and Sycamore.

---Technical Discussion---The pollen levels for Tuesday will remain relatively stable in the high range. The pollen producing plants are delivering a fairly constant level of pollen into the air.

Learn more about this month's featured pollen:

---Did You Know?---There are basically three ways to treat seasonal allergies: avoidance of the allergen, medication to treat the symptoms, or immunotherapy to try to affect the physiology of the disease.

---Allergy Tip---Have children change clothes when they come in from playing outside to help remove pollen from the indoor environment.

Freezing Temperatures Expected

OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE MID TO UPPER 30S ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE COLDEST LOCATIONS WILL GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A MILLPORT...TO BIRMINGHAM...TO ANNISTON LINE.DESPITE AN INCREASE IN CLOUDS A FEW LOCATIONS MAY STILL FALL TO OR JUST BELOW FREEZING IN THESE LOCATIONS.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...SOME LOW TEMPERATURES AROUND FREEZING ARE POSSIBLE. AT THIS TIME...THE MOST WIDESPREAD AND COOLEST TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED ON TUESDAYMORNING. IN ADDITION...PATCHY FROST WILL BE POSSIBLE. PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE VEGETATION WILL MOST LIKELY BE REQUIRED. BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA MONDAYAFTERNOON. SUSTAINED WINDS WILL BE AROUND 15 MPH WITH SOME GUSTS TO25 MPH. THESE WINDS MAY BE A BIT HIGHER ON OPEN WATERWAYS.

AN ORGANIZED WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BRING THE CHANCE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY EVENING INTO SATURDAY. THERE IS STILL UNCERTAINTY WITH THIS EVENT...WITH MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS TO COME AS MODEL RUNS COME TOGETHER IN THE COMING DAYS.

Earth Gauge: Drink Up

Americans fill-up one billion water glasses from the tap each day, and water utilities treat more than 34 billion gallons of water daily. While our tap water is generally safe, naturally-occurring pollutants and pollutants from humans and animals can impact drinking water quality.

The best way to protect your water and health is to learn about your local drinking water supply and how to protect it.

Know where your drinking water comes from. If you get your drinking water from a public supply, your water utility will provide a yearly “Consumer Confidence Report” that gives information on your water source, potential contaminants, and possible health effects. Visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.html and click on your state to find out if your report is available online.

If you depend on a household well – 15 percent of Americans do – make sure you have it tested for contaminants (bacteria, nitrates, and others) yearly. Installing a well cap or sanitary seal can protect your water supply from tampering and contamination.

Regardless of where you live, protect water quality by using household chemicals carefully. Never dump them outside or apply yard care chemicals when there is rain in the forecast. Avoid using chemicals near wells or surface waters.

(Sources: U.S. EPA. “Water on Tap: What You Need to Know.” http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/pdfs/book_waterontap_full.pdf; U.S. EPA. “Local Drinking Water Information.” http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.html)

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 4PM

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 195 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ALABAMA. THIS WATCH INCLUDES 10 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL ALABAMA: WALKER, MARION, WINSTON, FAYETTE, GREENE, HALE, LAMAR, PICKENS,
SUMTER, AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTY. THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...ALICEVILLE...CARROLLTON...EUTAW...FAYETTE...GREENSBORO...HALEYVILLE...HAMILTON...JASPER...LIVINGSTON...MOUNDVILLE...SULLIGENT...TUSCALOOSA...VERNON AND YORK.

Severe WX Threat Could Increase for Mississippi

TRENDS ARE BEING MONITORED FOR AN INCREASING SEVERE THREAT...WHICH COULD REQUIRE A WATCH AS EARLY AS 15-17Z.

UPPER SUPPORT FOR RAPID CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT THIS MORNING IS A BIT UNCERTAIN. BUT...IT APPEARS A LOW AMPLITUDE SHORT WAVE TROUGH IS IN THE PROCESS OF LIFTING THROUGH THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ...ON THE SOUTHEASTERN PERIPHERY OF LARGER-SCALE CENTRAL U.S. UPPER TROUGH. AND...LATEST RUC GUIDANCE...SUPPORTED BY 12Z RAOB FROM JACKSON...INDICATES THAT INHIBITION IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY NEGLIGIBLE IN MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER WITHIN CONFLUENT PRE-FRONTAL LOW-LEVEL FLOW REGIME ACROSS MUCH OF LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI. EARLY VISIBLE IMAGERY INDICATES CONSIDERABLE CLOUD COVER ACROSS THIS REGION...BUT IT MAY NOT TAKE MUCH SURFACE HEATING TO SUPPORT INTENSIFICATION OF BANDS OF CONVECTION ALREADY DEVELOPING ACROSS THIS REGION. ALTHOUGH MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE NOT PARTICULARLY STEEP...MIXED LAYER CAPE IN EXCESS OF 1500 J/KG WILL SUPPORT VIGOROUS UPDRAFTS IN THE PRESENCE OF STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR BENEATH 50-70 KT 500 MB FLOW. LOW-LEVEL HODOGRAPHS NEAR A 30 TO 50 KT SOUTHWESTERLY 850 JET AXIS REMAIN SIZABLE...AND SUPPORTIVE OF TORNADO POTENTIAL AND THE RISK FOR LARGE HAIL...PARTICULARLY IN MORE DISCRETE STORMS...WHILE DAMAGING WINDS BECOME A THREAT IN DEVELOPING LINE SEGMENTS.