Rain Chances Stay Elevated Throughout the Week Ahead; A Few Strong Storms Possible on Monday

THIS WEEK
More of the same for Monday that you have seen over the weekend… expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across the area, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. A surface front will be approaching the Tennessee Valley which will set up a Marginal Risk (level 1/5) for severe storms which will include locations along and north of a line from Reform to Blountsville to Collinsville. Main risks will be from isolated damaging wind gusts and some hail. Highs will range throughout the 80s across North/Central Alabama.

That front will actually retreat to the west somewhat on Tuesday, with ridging becoming the dominant weather factor for the area from mid-week on. Scattered to numerous showers and storms are expected on Tuesday, but those overall chances will be a little smaller than Monday’s. For Wednesday through Friday, odds will be around 50/50 for anyone to get an afternoon scattered shower or storm. Afternoon highs will be in the lower 80s to the lower 90s across the area.

THE NORTH/CENTRAL ALABAMA WEEKEND
Moist and humid air will continue to hang over North/Central Alabama while the ridging continues to keep control of our weather pattern. That means no change in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Each day will start with a decent amount of sunshine, with a 50/50 chance of scattered afternoon to early evening showers and storms. Highs will be in the mid 80s to the lower 90s.

TROPICAL UPDATE
Saharan dust continues to be forecast to move across the tropics throughout the next seven days that will keep any formation of tropical cyclones out of the question in those regions for at least the next five days.

ON THIS DAY IN WEATHER HISTORY
1842 – A hurricane struck eastern North Carolina. It was described as “the worst in 80 years”. 28 vessels were washed up onto the beaches and Portsmouth Village was washed away.

1951 – The Kaw River flood occurred. The month of June that year was the wettest of record for the state of Kansas, and during the four days preceding the flood much of eastern Kansas and western Missouri received more than ten inches of rain. Flooding in the Midwest claimed 41 lives, left 200 thousand persons homeless, and caused a billion dollars of property damage. Kansas City was the hardest hit. The central industrial district sustained 870 million dollars property damage.

1980 – Lightning struck a large broiler house in Branford, FL, and the ensuing fire broiled 11,000 nearly ready broilers. Firemen were able to save a few thousand chickens, however.