Birmingham weather and Alabama weather. Weather forecast, radar, warnings, free storm alerts for Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Anniston, Gadsden, and Alabama from FOX 6 News WBRC TV in Birmingham, Alabama.
I wanted to share some pictures from our weather visit in Tuscaloosa County earlier this week. On Monday I traveled to Woodland Forrest Elementary School. I spoke to the 3rd grade students about weather and severe weather safety. It was a fun day for the students as they were participating in lots of outdoor activities for Earth Day. As you can see in the pics we had lots of fun conducting weather related experiments.
If you would like to schedule a weather visit drop us an email and we can schedule a visit to your hometown.
Fox 6 Meteorologist Wes Wyatt Twitter @weswyattweather Facebook.com/weswyattfox6 wwyatt@wbrc.com
Last night and today I’ve been reading several stories from facebook fans. I asked folks to share some of their stories from the Blizzard of 1993.
Judy Guy says, “I don’t think anybody will forget that day, I know I want.”
Bonita Moore says, “We had lightning and thunder and loads of snow! I will never forget it!
James Willis says, “Working on a Friday night at a grocery store and didn’t get home until Tuesday morning.”
This is just a small sample of the memories from that historic day. I remember an afternoon drive down highway 69 back in 1993 as snow/sleet began falling in Tuscaloosa. At the time I didn’t fully understand the magnitude and historical aspect of what was happening. A strong mid latitude cyclone was forming over the Gulf.
Large pressure falls and a sharp temperature gradient developed over the region. On the evening of the 12th a good portion of Alabama was experiencing blowing snow and freezing temperatures while severe weather and warm 70-degree readings impacted central Florida. High winds and a heavy blanket of snow caused numerous power outages in our area as the low pressure center tracked across Alabama. Unlike most March winter weather systems, a deep upper level trough and heavy snowpack set the stage for several nights with temperatures well below freezing.
Snow totals from Alabama into the Carolinas topped the 2’ mark in some areas. The storm system spawned 11 tornadoes in Florida. As the storm system entered the northeast, some drifts topped 3’, with pressure levels rivaling that of a category two hurricane.
Check out the GOES-7 Animation from the NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory showing the evolution of this storm system.
Fox 6 Meteorologist Wes Wyatt Twitter @weswyattweather Facebook.com/weswyattfox6 wwyatt@wbrc.com
It's that time of year again, time to Spring Forward! Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM tomorrow morning. I always like to send out a reminder to change the batteries in your NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio and Smoke Detectors. This is always a good reminder to ensure you have a battery backup during times of threatening weather. Sunset time tomorrow will be at 6:52 p.m.
When its winter time in the northern hemisphere that means it is tropical season for the southern hemisphere. Check out this high resolution satellite image of Cyclone Narrelle captured by the Suomi NPP Satellite's VIIRS sensor on Friday. This cyclone is now tracking into the open sea west of Austrailia, with maximum sustained winds of 132 mph, with gusts topping 150 mph! Ships sailing in the Indian Ocean, west of Austrailia, have captured some incredible photos of wind blowing dessert sands into the ocean.
(Massive cloud of dust captured near the coast of Onslow, Australia. Source: CNN)
Fox 6 Meteorologist Wes Wyatt wwyatt@wbrc.com Twitter @weswyattweather Facebook.com/weswyattfox6
This past week I was able to roll down the windows and enjoy a sunny drive over to Calhoun County. On Wednesday I visited the senior citizens at the Oxford House just off of Barry Street in Oxford. This facility is located across from the new library. The group asked some great questions and we covered a wide range of topics ranging from April 27th, 2011 to winter weather. As soon as I mentioned snow Mrs. Kathryn Young surprised me by showing me a snowball that she’s had in her freezer for three years. Who said you can’t find snow in Alabama during the month of September?
I want to thank the group at the Oxford House for allowing me to come speak. If you would like for us to come speak to your school, group, or organization, send us an email. You can message me at wwyatt@wbrc.com.
We’re getting ready for another big weather ready day. The Storm Tracker will first visit New Bethlehem Baptist in Bessemer (11th Avenue) at 10AM. The members of the church are hosting a Health Fair that will continue through 2 PM. We will have some safety guides on-hand, plus we can help with NOAA Weather Radio Programming.
Later today you will have another opportunity to see the Storm Tracker at Tannehill State Park. Starting at 4PM Safety Day will kickoff and this will last through 8PM. If you need help programming your weather radio, grab some fresh batteries and come see us.
The city of Sylacauga is planning an evening full of activites for National Night Out. The event will begin at Noble Park at 5 PM today and last through 7 PM. The Fox 6 Storm Warn team has been invited and we will have the Storm Tracker on site. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and check out the tracker! You can also pickup one of our free severe weather safety guides. Noble park is a few blocks past the Library, at the corner of North Broadway (Al 21) and 10th street.
(photo courtesy of the Illinois State Water Survey, INRS, University of Illinois).
On this date in 1953 the first ever hook echo was detected using radar. The Illinois State Water Survey staff observed this event using radar located near Champaign, Illinois. Radar technician Don Staggs was actually conducting some repairs on the radar and noticed the interesting return signal. He then decided to record the radar using a mounted 35 mm camera. Researchers later took the images and linked them to damage photos in the area. As we know today the presence of a well defined “Hook Echo” is a good sign of a rotating supercell thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado. (Courtesy of the Illinois State Water Survey, INRS, University of Illinois).
I received this message from my friend Don Hartley with the State EMA and wanted to share:
I got home from out of town yesterday afternoon just in time to watch the Blue Angels practice. It wasn't 10 minutes after a thunderstorm passed that they were in the air and practicing their show while neighbors and I stood in our yards and watched. The sight and sound of the F/A-18 Hornet slicing through the sky are exciting and makes you feel proud to be an American. I plan to be at the show Sunday. If you want to get an idea of what is going on while the Blues do their demonstration go to their website at www.blueangels.navy.mil/ and click on "Inside the Demo". Also, don't forget some of the remaining "Tuskegee Airmen", true heros from the Greatest Generation will also be at the show as will the P-51D, the aircraft many of them flew. Like the Hornet; the P-51 was the hottest tactical fighter aircraft of its day.
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