Taking Our Place in the Record Books

Not only does it SEEM we have gotten a LOT of rainfall in the past month, but now the National Weather Service in Huntsville has added up the totals and have placed the month in the top FIVE of the wettest Decembers in Huntsville’s recorded history book.

The report can be found here.  It not only shows heavy rains in a swath across north cantral Alabama, but heavy rains all across the Tennessee Valley.  This is squarely the result of our recently dynamic weather pattern, where the more dramatic the temperature change, the more precipitation is delivered along those air masses boundaries.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

2008 Ends with a Few More Changes

The overnight showers and thunderstorms that moved across the Tennessee Valley early Sunday morning played the part to hark the arrival of a cold front dropping the temperatures into the 50s Sunday afternoon and will see to it that morning lows will approach freezing on Monday morning.

With near freezing temperatures in NW Alabama and parts of north central Alabama, the temperatures in the mountains will likely stay just above freezing because of the clearing in the Shoals and the continuation of overnight clouds in the eastern parts of north Alabama.

We’ll see two very nice afternoons Monday and Tuesday, followed by a cooldown to end 2008.  2009 will start with a hard freeze before rain makes its first 2009 visit on Friday, before another chilly weekend.

Keep checking the 7-Day forecast for details.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

The Christmas Eve tornado in Belle Mina, while not a complete surprise, received no tornado warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Huntsville, nor from television stations in North Alabama except for WAAY-31 and a ‘Strong T-storm Advisory’ on the screen as was issued from the NWS as a Significant Weather Advisory.

How could this happen!?  Stations claim to have radars that ‘SEE WHAT OTHERS CAN’T', and have ‘LIVE DOPPLER RADARS’ where television stations are quick to claim that ‘WE SAVE LIVES’.  Frankly, claims are often stretched.  Be AWARE of ANY TELEVISION claim unless it can be proven.  EVERY TIME.

On Christmas Eve, a line of very strong thunderstorms formed in Mississippi during the afternoon spreading across the Tennessee Valley into the evening hours.  While the line DID draw a couple tornado warnings in Central Alabama from the NWS in Birmingham, it did not draw a warning from the NWS in Huntsville.  It has nothing to do with ability, but radar CAPABILITY.  The technology STILL does not exist to spot EVERY tornado.  It probably never will.  But there were a FEW signs that were being watched as this storm moved across North Alabama.

The image above shows a VERY common sight in the Tennessee Valley.  When many thunderstorm ’squall lines’ move across the Tennessee Valley, they produce ‘Bow Echoes’, which are surges in storm winds that can themselves cause damage in what are called ’straight line winds’.

Above is that image a few minutes later where the ‘bow’ is starting to split, the main winds driving southeast, the the ‘bow head’ splitting off, where it starts to spin, much like a stream of water that hits a rock, causing a small eddy or whirlpool.

This image shows a VERY small hook echo being formed on that bow head as it is spinning, and becoming a small tornado producing storm.  These tornadoes are very hard to detect in real-time, and frequently cause damage and are then noticed after the storm has passed.

As you can see, jst a few moments later, the spin has dissipated, and the damage was left behind.  See the the previous blog entry for a review of this storm and a storm survey issued from the NWS in Huntsville.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

An EVENTFUL Christmas Eve Indeed in North Alabama

The write-up below is exactly what is written in the National Weather Service, Huntsville, storm report from a confirmed tornado in Belle Mina, AL on Christmas Eve.  You can find the online report here.

A squall line that moved across the Tennessee Valley produced tornado damage in southern Limestone county. The tornado developed in a forested area just east of Interstate 65 north of Garrett Road. Trees toppled onto a vehicle being used by hunters. The tornado tracked through a cotton field for about 1/2 mile before intensifying to EF-1 strength destroying two single wide trailer homes. One was lifted off its foundation entirely with debris found several hundred yards downwind. Fortunately, no occupants were in either location.

The tornado then tracked into a farmstead along Mooresville road completely destroying two large tractor sheds. Two of the adjacent homes sustained minor damage to the roof. Several cedar and cypress trees were either snapped or uprooted with one landing atop a vehicle. The tornado crossed Mooresville road, uprooted and snapped additional trees, and collapsed a small shed onto vehicles. One wall of an old small farmhouse also collapsed. No occupants were in this home.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

And Yes so does the REAL NORAD.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command.  NORAD. Protecting us from missiles, jet fighters, and incoming threats from our enemies.  Serious military stuff.  Seriously.  These scientists, satellite and radar analysts, and military defense experts do something quite interesting and amazing on their spare time.

They track Santa.  Their webpage will be shown by television stations worldwide, and viewed online by millions and millions of people as Santa leaves the North Pole and starts his annual trek around the world.

What will the Jolly Old (!?!?!?) Elf (I prefer the Jolly Timeless Elf since I want to stay on the Nice-list) see when he arrives in the Tennessee Valley?  Rain.  Not snow.  No story-book weather for us.  Christmas Eve Rain and Christmas Day Cool Temperatures.

Be prepared to clean up some wet boot prints from your floors after Santa makes his trip inside your house.  And consider leaving a dry towel along with the cookies and milk.  He might just leave a little something extra in your stocking.

 Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

It was surprisingly cold in many areas of the Tennessee Valley Monday morning.  The best source of information compiled is from the NWS in Huntsville and the scientists at the National Space Science and Technology Center at UAH.  Read and enjoy, and you might want to bookmark this for future write-ups on weather phenomena.

Not a lot more to share here, except for the 3 P’s.  Pets, Pipes and People.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

The Wet Weather Becomes Frigid

If it’s not ONE thing its another.  Rain last week.  Rain this week.  Some rain next week.  But there is a break in the middle.  FRIGID TEMPS SUNDAY THROUGH TUE MORNING.  Oh goodie.

A cool front hanging up in the Tennessee Valley brings more rain into Saturday before it moves back out as a warm front on Saturday.  THEN… heavier rains will precede a very strong cold front for Sunday morning.  Some of these showers may AGAIN deliver sporadic areas of 1 to 2 inches of total accumulation.

Sunday, morning high temperatures will max out near 40, before the bottom drops out, sending afternoon temperatures through the 30s and into the 20s by early evening.  THEN skies clear just in time for Monday morning temperatures to start in the teens.  Oh Goodie.

Sunshine and low 40s will likely Monday with ANOTHER hard freeze on Tuesday morning.  However, we might actually see SUNSHINE Monday and part of Tuesday.  Then the moisture returns with rain chances returning TUE evening through Christmas Eve, and perhaps lingering into Christmas Day.  And as of now, Christmas Day looks fairly mild.

Check the 7-Day forecast for details.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / StormForce 31

More Than You Might Think!

December Rainfall Totals Through December 18, 2008

Here is where you need to click to see the rainfall totals from the National Weather Service in Huntsville for the Tennessee Valley from their network of rain gauges.

Speaking of FOG.  Well, we weren’t, but are NOW, be prepared for some very dense areas of fog at times for the next several mornings at the least, and any time a front stalls out across the Tennessee Valley, fog will be likely again.  Remember than when you see fog, slow it down, keep on your headlights and fog lights, avoid your bright lights on your car, and slow down.  Then slow down a little more.  The Nat’l Weather Service Suggests:

I hope I have gotten across my point.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

 But, Until We Get some Distance, Maybe Not for Good

The Drought Monitor that will be issued on Thursday will likely show the drought has  expired for all but parts of Dekalb Cherokee Counties.  The great number of rains this month has finally put a nail in the coffin of the drought… well, as least put a hinge on the door.  As we know from experience, it’s ugly head can return quickly in this part of the country.

Now about the ups and downs and ups and downs for the next week.  When the storm track shifts toward the southeast this time of year, we have aggressive temperature swings from the 30s to the 70s and back again.  While we see those swings for the next week, keep your apparel choices flexible, and stick your toe out the door before you walk out if you don’t check the never misleading, always accurate Storm Force 31 forecast.

Check the 7-Day forecast for details.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / StormForce 31

With the stationary front sitting in place over the Tennessee Valley, the temperatures contrast from Florence to Gadsden ranged from 48 to 70 (!!) at 2:30pm.

When this system finally moves northward, temperatures tomorrow should climb back into the middle 60s to near 70 in many parts of the Tennessee Valley on Thursday.  Rains and thunderstorms will return for Friday with a threat for some heavy or severe weather Friday and again on Sunday.  Next week, more BIG changes!

Check the 7-Day forecast for details.

 Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

A Precipitous Rise

This stuff is great.  Afternoon high temperatures climbing into into the middle 60s in Huntsville (64, Nat’l Weather Service Official High at 12:36pm) and lower 60s in the Shoals (61, NWS’s Official Highat 9:05am) before afternoon temperatures plunged 20 degrees by 6pm. (See Map Below)

A VERY strong cold front pushed across the Tennessee Valley Monday afternoon.  This is the same mass of cold air that brought amazingly cold wind chills to the Northern Plains Monday, and a mix of freezing rain and snow to the nation’s mid-section.

We’ll see unsettled weather this week with cooler temps on Tuesday, a slow Wednesday warm-up, and a big step UP on Thursday and Friday in preparation for the next cold front this weekend, that will also takes its time meandering through, keeping the chance for showers in the forecast through Sunday morning.

Check the 7-Day forecast for details.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31

This was a VERY busy week in the Tennessee Valley.  One of the very best resources for this week’s storm is the UAH/NASA Collaborative Blog.  At this site, you can find a lot of unique information regarding our topsy-turvy week.  So since they have taken care of most of the weather events of this week, I wanted to share with you some of the pictures we received from some of our wonderful WAAY-31 viewers.

While you look at these pictures, recall how odd this week truly was, with 60s and thunderstorms, an EF2 Tornado in Jackson County, the heaviest 3-days rains in Huntsville since December of 1991, and then a touch of snow in the Shoals.

As for the forecast, morning temperatures falling below freezing starts a weekend on a frosty note.  Heavy Saturday morning frost starts the weekend because of the clear skies, light winds, and ABUNDANT moisture at ground level to fill the lower levels of the atmosphere with lots of water vapor.  It is these invisible vapor molecules that deposit and form ice crystals when the temperatures near and fall below freezing.  This frost will be so prevalent that not only will it form on the usual areas, it could also form on bridges and overpasses, causing patches of ice that are nearly invisible, so called ‘black ice’.

This black ice is historically responsible for deaths and injuries annually as unsuspecting drivers find themselves sliding out of control.  Either delay morning travel or take GREAT care on roadways until the temperatures are well above freezing.

Sunday will see increasing clouds and warming temperatures.  Monday will see the start of a new weather pattern that will bring showers Monday and the scattering of such for a few days next week.  The forecast WILL have changes, so…

Keep checking the 7-Day Forecast for details.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / StormForce 31

Another Storm System Interesting to Watch

With more rains moving our way overnight through tomorrow, we likely won’t see enough to make flooding WORSE, but will likely keep the flooding from receding more quickly.  Indian Creek, Paint Rock Creek, and the Flint River, already at or above bankfull, will continue to cause flooding in ‘the usual places’ until that water subsides.

Then as the colder air mixes in the upper levels of the atmosphere, the rains will start to change over to sleet and snow with light accumulations possible.  This is a very dynamic storm, so change either way is entirely possible, more or less rain AND snow.  This is a situation that will keep us on our toes until is passes through.  This is the initial forecas, and it could change… drastically, either way.

Keep checking the 7-Day Forecast for details.

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / StormForce 31

Though these are not ALL of the reports that will come from this line of storms and hours of flooding rains, here is the list as of 2:45am.  You can find the NWS storm report page at this link.

HUN: Fayetteville [Lincoln Co, TN] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 01:40 AM CST — up to a foot of water was reported over roads in downtown fayetteville…including old huntsville highway…mulberry rd…and old lincoln rd.

HUN: Belvidere [Franklin Co, TN] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 01:40 AM CST — water was reported over us hwy 64 in belvedere

HUN: 4 Ne Madison [Madison Co, AL] amateur radio reports FLASH FLOOD at 01:25 AM CST — indian creek was out of its banks at us 72 and at the village of providence…water was not reaching the road at that time.

HUN: 3 Ene Madison [Madison Co, AL] nws employee reports FLASH FLOOD at 01:45 AM CST — considerable flooding along indian creek near farrow road. the nature trail was under water…and a nearby cow pasture was partially under water. water was within four feet of the farrow road bridge. at madison pike…water was nearly touching the bottom of the bridge.

HUN: Belle Mina [Limestone Co, AL] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 12:30 AM CST — limestone county 911 reports water over roads throughout the entire county…especially in the belle mina area.

HUN: 1 S Harvest [Madison Co, AL] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 01:15 AM CST — water was reported over several roads in the harvest and toney areas of northwest madison county…including portions of ford chapel rd…wall triana hwy…and county line rd/old railroad bed rd.

HUN: 5 Se Harvest [Madison Co, AL] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 01:15 AM CST — madison county officials report water covering several roads in northwest huntsville…including bob wade ln…pulaski pike…and al highway 53.

HUN: 5 Ese Harvest [Madison Co, AL] amateur radio reports FLASH FLOOD at 01:15 AM CST — ham radio operators report water over the intersection of kelly springs rd and bob wade ln.

5 N Scottsboro [Jackson Co, AL] law enforcement reports TSTM WND DMG at 01:02 AM CST — a house was damaged along cr 21 in pikeville. the roof was blown off…windows and doors were blown in. power lines were downed in the area. possible tornado. time estimated.

HUN: 5 Nw Littleville [Colbert Co, AL] law enforcement reports TSTM WND DMG at 09:55 PM CST — trees were reported down along underwood mountain rd near colbert heights.

HUN: Cullman [Cullman Co, AL] emergency mngr reports FLASH FLOOD at 12:48 AM CST — up to a half a foot of water was reported over roadways in downtown cullman.

HUN: Cullman [Cullman Co, AL] fire dept/rescue reports HAIL of marble size (E0.50 INCH) at 12:46 AM CST — dime size hail reported in downtown cullman.

HUN: Town Creek [Lawrence Co, AL] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 10:55 PM CST — lawrence county 911 reports water over portions of al highway 101

HUN: 3 N Chalybeate Springs [Lawrence Co, AL] law enforcement reports FLASH FLOOD at 10:55 PM CST — lawrence county 911 reports water over cr 222.

HUN: Cherokee [Colbert Co, AL] trained spotter reports FLASH FLOOD at 09:55 PM CST — report of ditches and creeks flooding near cherokee.

HUN: Hatton [Lawrence Co, AL] law enforcement reports TSTM WND DMG at 09:25 PM CST — a tree was knocked down across hwy 101 in the hatton area near milemaker 2.

HUN: Red Bay [Franklin Co, AL] law enforcement reports TSTM WND DMG at 09:20 PM CST — report of power outages in red bay from downed utility pole.

It has been a long night of watching radar, watching flooding, and hoping people don;t make bad decisions on the roadways.  For safety information on flooding, please go to THIS link and read.  Remember that MOST flooding deaths occur witih drivers and passengers in SUV’s, since those are the people that think they are safest and take more chances.  Share this blog post with as many people as you can.

As always, we are monitoring.  Now, watch for more rain tonight and the chance for SNOW Thursday.  The fun never ends ’round here!

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist / Storm Force 31