ABC 33/40 Weather Updates April 24

ABC 33/40 Weather Updates for Saturday, April 24, 2010.

TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2:00 PM ON SATURDAY: Tuscaloosa, Etowah, Hale, Blount, Walker, Shelby, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Cullman, Greene, Marion, Pickens, Talladega, Winston, Bibb, Clay, Coosa, Fayette, Jefferson, St. Clair

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 12:00 AM ON SUNDAY: Tuscaloosa, Etowah, Hale, Blount, Walker, Shelby, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Greene, Marion, Pickens, Talladega, Winston, Bibb, Clay, Coosa, Fayette, Jefferson, St. Clair

…HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS ALABAMA TODAY…

This is a very active time outdoors across Central Alabama with lots of big events and activities on tap this weekend. Unfortunately, the weather will play havoc with many of those today, including the Magic City Art Connection. Organizers of this downtown Birmingham event have decided to cancel today’s events due to the severe weather threat. Sunday activities will go on as scheduled.

RACE WEATHER:
A sea of campers, RVs and tents are spread across the landscape at the Talladega Superspeedway. This is a potential worst case scenario with the threat of severe weather in place across the area today. We know that lots of race fans will be reading this forecast via email or the web, and we urge all of you to keep a very close eye on the latest information through tonight. Thunderstorms will be likely this morning at Talladega, with the potential for severe storms. Additional severe storms will move into East Alabama this afternoon and evening, presenting an even bigger threat of severe weather. This could pose a problem for this afternoon’s race, but conditions should be much improved by Sunday morning.

MORE ON THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT: Severe storms will be possible through this morning across Central Alabama as a warm front lifts slowly northward. Hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes will be a threat. Then, with some clearing later this morning and early this afternoon, it looks like temperatures will rise into the upper 70s with dewpoints in the upper 60s. This will push instability values to very high levels. This will set the stage for supercell storms and the potential tornadoes this afternoon and this evening. It will be windy with winds gusting to over 30 mph at times.

THE WEEK AHEAD: Sunday will feature partly cloudy and breezy conditions. Highs should make the upper 70s. Expect partly cloudy and mild conditions for of the week ahead. Highs will be warming through the 70s. Lows will be in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Our next rain chances will come next weekend.

Forecaster: Bill Murray
For the latest weather information visit the ABC 33/40 Weather Blog