BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Good morning and happy Sunday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day.
We are seeing poor air quality across central Alabama due to all of the smoke from fireworks last night. I highly recommend avoiding any strenuous outdoor activity this morning as air quality levels remain unhealthy to moderate in Jefferson and Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Cullman counties. We should see the air quality improve this afternoon as the smoke slowly disperses and dissipates.
Temperatures this morning are in the low-to-mid-70s with a mostly clear to partly cloudy sky. We are watching a disturbance to our west that is producing widely scattered showers and storms in parts of Mississippi and west Alabama this morning. We could see a few storms in west Alabama this morning, but we will likely see a greater coverage in showers and storms this afternoon and evening across all of central Alabama. I can’t rule out a strong or severe storm in west Alabama before noon.
The Storm Prediction Center has a Marginal Risk (green) – threat level one out of five – for most of central Alabama today. Storms today will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts up to 40-60 mph. They will also produce heavy rainfall, frequent lightning and small hail. My best advice is to monitor the weather today and to go inside if you hear thunder or see lightning. Storms today will likely move to the east-northeast.
With a higher rain chance, temperatures will be closer to average this afternoon with highs in the lower 90s. The heat index will be near 100°F. Today is our first time in almost a week where the entire state isn’t under a heat advisory…