Thursday, December 30, 2010

New Year coming in like a lion !

A powerful weather system is forecast to impact our area beginning in the afternoon Friday. At this time there appears to be the potential for severe thunderstorms, heavy rains and even a tornado or two. I think the the best threat for tornadoes will remain to our west but they certainly can not be ruled out for our area. We will have a much better handle on that part of the event tomorrow morning. The biggest threat at this time appears to be severe thunderstorms early on and as the evening progresses it become more of a heavy rain event that will most likely last past midnight into early Saturday. One the system finally shifts east the threat of severe weather and heavy rain will diminish and chilly and drier weather return by Saturday evening. Stay tuned to WDAM-TV and wdam.com for the latest weather updates. Rex

Monday, December 27, 2010

Cold weather will lose grip this week.

Very cold high pressure is currently dominating our weather but it will eventually move east and we will begin to warm up somewhat as we get into the middle and latter parts of the week. At this time it appears New Years Eve will be mild with highs around 71 with a chance for showers during the day. As far as New Years Even celebrations that night we will run the risk of showers and thunderstorms. Those shower and thundershower chances will linger into New Years Day before ending that night. Sunny and slightly cooler will arrive for Sunday but at this time we do not see temps anywhere near as cold as what we are currently enduring. Rex

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Cold air is here !!!

Very cold air is now in the area and will remain through the early part of next week with a hard freeze likely Sunday and Monday nights. As we head into the last week of 2010 we will are noting a weather pattern change and that means warmer air by the end of the week as we head into New Years Eve. A strong storm is forecast to invade the area by next Friday and it may bring with it the threat of severe weather. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed. There are some indications that colder air will return in about the next 1o days are less, but that is something that we are uncertain about at this time. Happy holidays everyone. Rex

Friday, December 24, 2010

Happy holidays everyone !!!

For you last minute Christmas shoppers the weather could not be any better ! Sunny skies today with highs in the upper 50s to near 60. Partly cloudy tonight with lows in the mid 30s. A low pressure area is forecast to form in the Gulf south of our area and spread rain into the Pine Belt early on Christmas day. At this time it appears the heavist rain will occur in the morning hours tapering off to light rain in the afternoon. The forecast calls for a high of 50 but I feel that will occur early in the day as I think we will see temps falling into the 40s with a strong northerly wind in the afternoon. As the cold air moves in-and if there is enough lingering moisture-we could squeeze out a snow flake or two but I believe that most of the precipitation will move out of here early Saturday evening. Sunday through next Tuesday promises to be quite cold with a hard freeze on Monday and Tuesday mornings. In case you are traveling to Tenn-northern Alabama-you may encouter a white Christmas !! At this time I would like to say Happy Holidays to all and a wonderful New Year. We really appreciate you guys for watching WDAM and for logging on to wdam.com Rex

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Good news for last minute Christmas shoppers.

Sunny, dry and cool weather will greet shoppers today and Friday. The big news is the low pressure area that is forecast to form in the Gulf of Mexcio by Friday night and bring rain to our area on Christmas day. If, and I say If there was enough moisture left in the atmosphere when cold air arrives on Saturday, we could possibly squeeze a snow flurrie or two out and that would be great for Christmas. I think the chances are slim at this time, but will continue to monitor the situation just in case later models runs start changing their minds. In any event, it is going to be much colder going into Christmas night lasting into the middle of next week. Rex

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Some changes to the Christmas forecast.

The strong cold front that was forecast to make it through our area on Christmas Eve appears to be slowing somewhat and is now expected to arrive on Christmas Day resulting in better rain chances. It appears that the heaviest rain will occur during the morning hours and taper off to light rain in the afternoon before ending. Much colder air will filter in behind the front with highs during the day only in the 40s. As we go in to Christmas night temps will fall to around 30. Really cold air will filter in by Sunday with highs only reaching the upper 30s and lows Sunday night into early Monday morning will be in the lower 20s ! Rex

Monday, December 20, 2010

Rare Lunar Eclispe Early Tuesday !

A very rare lunar eclispe will occur early Tuesday morning beginnig at 12:33 am-peeking at 2:15 am and ending by 4:01 am. The reason the event is so rare is that it is occuring on the Winter Solstice which begins at 5:38 pm Tuesday. The last time a total eclispe occured on the Winter Solstice was December 21st, 1638 and will not occur again until December 21st 2094 ! The forecast calls for increasing clouds overnight with lows in the mid 40s. Hopefully there will be enough breaks in those clouds to catch a glimpse of this very rare event. Slight chance for showers on Christmas Eve but Chrismtas day looks to be sunny and quite chilly with highs around 50 and dropping into the 20s Christmas night. Happy Holidays everyone ! Rex

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Finally warmer air has arrived !

A warmer airmass will replace the cold Arctic air that has been in place over the deep south for quite awhile now. Highs today will top out near 60 with lows tonight in the mid 50s. Even warmer on Thursday with highs in the lower 70s. Another front will sweep through the area on Saturday followed by colder weather. The air will not be of Arctic origin so it will not be as cold, but it will be chilly. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will be in the 50s and lows Saturday night will be in the upper 20s. We will have a better idea about Christmas on Friday and I will blog about that. Rex

Monday, December 13, 2010

Arctic air now in the area !

Although skies will be sunny today expect highs of only around 40. Overnight lows are forecast to be in the 15-20 degree range so please take precautions ! It will still be chilly on Tuesday with highs in the upper 40s but lows will fall to only around 30 Tuesday night. By Thursday we will see temps rebound to around 70 ! Another front will move into the area by the weekend but the air behind it will not be quite as cold. Looking ahead to next week, a ridge of high pressure out in the Plains may deflect more cold air further to our east than directly over us. We are looking into the weather patterns for Christmas and we are getting some idea about what the weather may be like then, but I will hold off on that for a day or two as we get a better feel for what may happen. Rex

Friday, December 10, 2010

Arctic cold front coming !!!!

A strong cold front will push across our area Saturday night and bring with it a good chance for rain and possibly some isolated thunderstorms. After the frontal passage, Sunday promises to be very windy and down right cold with highs in the 40s and wind chills in the 30s ! A hard freeze is expected both Sunday and Monday nights. A gradual warm-up will take over by the end of next week before another front moves through. It is that time of year !! Have a great weekend ! Rex

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Why it is NOT snowing.

Pretty much we have some precipitation above us and it is on the verge of snow and possibly a rain-snow mix. The problem is that the atmosphere is VERY DRY from the surface up to about 10,000 feet so any thing that attempts to fall to the surface evaporates before reaching the surface. Almost all of the ingrediants are there for a rain-snow mixture, it is the dry air that is causing the problem. More cold air is on tap tonight with a hard freeze forecast with lows near 20 and some folks could see upper teens so take precautions. More cold Arctic air arrives late in the weekend into early next week. Will we have more chances for snow before the winter is over ? Yes, I think we will so for all of you snow lovers, don't give up yet !!!! Rex

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Snow possible in the area overnight !!!!

Latest data indicates that we could get a dusting of snow and possibly even a half inch overnight mainly between midnight and 9:00 am Wednesday. One or two models say an inch is possible ! Nick Ortego will have the latest information after new data comes in this afternoon so be sure and stay tuned to WDAM-TV and wdam.com as well as Facebook and Twitter!! Rex

Monday, December 6, 2010

Hard freeze tonight !

Temps will drop into into the 20-22 degree range tonight which will result in a hard freeze for the entire WDAM viewing area so take precautions today. Make sure your outside pipes are wrapped and also make sure you leave your water dripping a little as well. Of course don't forget about the elderly and other folks that may need help in staying warm and the family pets as well. There is a slight chance that we may see a snow shower later Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning as a strong upper level system moves overhead. Most of the moisture associated with this system will not be heavy enough to reach the surface, but if it does it will fall in the form of snow. Little if any accumulation is expected at this time but we will continue to monitor the system. It will mainly be a dry week and cool but by Friday temps will recover into the lower 60s for highs. By Saturday we will see a chance for a shower as front approaches with highs in the upper 60s. By Sunday the cold front will pass through with windy conditions expected and a slight chance for a shower. That front will be followed by colder air again starting early next week. Rex

Friday, December 3, 2010

Mild start to weekend then much colder !

Today and Saturday will be mild with highs in the 60s. A cold front will sweep through Saturday night and that will be the beginning of a much colder weather pattern setting up in the state that should last well into next week. Some models indicate that there will be just enough moisture in the air to produce a flurrie or two of snow as a disturbance moves overhead Tuesday night. At this time no accumulation is expected. Many nights next week will dip well into the 20s with afternoon highs mainly in the lower 50s and possibly just upper 40s. As we get a better handle on the temps we will update our forecasts. Have a great weekend ! Rex

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Even colder weather pattern setting up for next week !

Several fronts will sweep through the Pine Belt over the next seven days. The first will be on Saturday with highs that day in the upper 60s then falling into the 30s overnight. Highs on Sunday will only be in the lower 50s and lows by Monday morning will be in the mid 20s-a hard freeze. Monday through Wednesday looks even colder with highs maily in the 40s and lows in the 20s ! We may have to adjust the temps downward some as we get a better handle on the extent of the cold air. Stay tuned ! Rex