WE KNOW HOW THEY FEEL: I think this image taken by my friend from ABC News, Ginger Zee, pretty much sums up the situation in Moore, OK yesterday…

We will post opportunities to help these people as we learn of them. Death toll is 91 as I write this early this morning, and there is fear it will go higher. Probably over 100. Our death toll in Alabama April 27, 2011 was 252.

STILL DRY TODAY: Expect a good supply of sunshine across Alabama today with a high in the 86-90 degree range this afternoon. For some it will be the warmest day so far in 2013.

TO THE WEST: SPC has defined a “moderate risk” of severe weather for the Ark-La-Tex region… some cities included in this enhanced risk include Dallas, Shreveport, Texarkana, and Tyler. A slight risk surrounds this from the Texas Hill Country to Michigan.

TOMORROW/THURSDAY: The deep upper trough responsible for the severe weather across the Great Plains in recent days will weaken and pass far north of Alabama… any severe storms will be in states like Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. We will mention a chance of scattered showers and storms here tomorrow, but rain amounts should be generally light and spotty. Other, tomorrow will be warm with a mix of sun and clouds and a high in the mid 80s.

We will hang on to some risk of a shower Thursday with a cold front passing through, but again rain amounts should be light, and some spots will miss the rain completely.

FRIDAY THROUGH THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: The weather doesn’t get any better as a dry, continental airmass drops into Alabama. Expect sunny warm days, and clear cool nights. We won’t get out of the 70s Friday with a refreshing north breeze, and it now looks like we will see a low near 50 degrees early Saturday, with 40s likely for the cooler spots around here. We rarely enjoy cool mornings like this in late May. Absolutely no risk of rain for the long, holiday weekend.

GULF COAST WEATHER: Looks great through Memorial Day from Panama City to Gulf Shores. You might see a brief passing shower or storm tomorrow or Thursday, otherwise mostly sunny days and fair nights. Highs on the immediate coast near 80, with mid 80s inland. The sea water temperature at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab this morning is 77 degrees.

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40.

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No WeatherBrains guest tonight as the show takes on a more somber note in light of the tragic news coming out of Moore, OK, where a tornado today was responsible for over 50 fatalities (at the time of the posting of the show notes). The discussion focuses on some of the issues that come out of events like this.

The winner of the contest for the bobblehead doll will be announced next week.

Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:

Our email bag officer will have the email bag in total next week.

From The Weather Center:

WeatherBrains 101 and This Week in Weather History will be back next week.

Listener Surveys: Okay, we continue to drive this topic into the ground, but we really do like to hear from you. Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to fill out the Listener Survey. The survey takes just a minute or two to complete and provides us with an opportunity to learn where you are and hear your thoughts and comments on the show. Click here to take the survey.

Web Sites from Episode 382:

Moore, OK, Tracks from 1999 and 2013

Picks of the Week:

With the major weather events of today in Central Oklahoma, the picks of the week will also return next week.

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like JB Elliott, Nate Johnson, Bill Murray, Kevin Selle, and Brian Peters. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating netcast about weather.

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A violent tornado moved through Moore, Oklahoma earlier this afternoon… destruction is severe and widespread; at least two schools were hit. We simply don’t know about fatalities or injuries since it happened less than one hour ago. Below is one of the schools hit… photo from KFOR-TV

90 DEGREES POSSIBLE TOMORROW: Here at home, an upper ridge will keep our weather dry tomorrow… we have potential for the first 90 degree day of 2013, but the latest guidance has most places in the 86-89 degree range, which sounds more likely due to the wet soil conditions.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: Scattered showers and storms are likely on these two days, but severe weather is not expected since the upper dynamics will weaken and pass well north of the state. Still, a strong storm or two is certainly possible Wednesday afternoon. Rain amounts should be one inch or less.

FRIDAY AND THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: Delightful weather, with sunny warm days and clear cool nights. Looks like we drop into the cool 50s early Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. Highs will be near 80 Friday, with low to mid 80s Saturday and Sunday. The weather stays dry on Monday, Memorial Day.

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. We will produce this week’s show at 8:30 p.m. CT… you can watch live here.

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From the ground… from @ks0stm

Radar debris ball…. from OKC terminal radar…

TDS (tornado debris signature) from OKC dual pol CC…

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A large and powerful tornado is on the ground right now approaching Moore, Oklahoma.

Here is the stream from KFOR.

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HEATING UP: The warmest temperature so far this year, based on data from the Birmingham Airport, is 87 degrees, measured on April 10. A decent chance we beat that today; the GFS and the NAM are printing a high of 88 this afternoon, and tomorrow a 90 degree high is a real possibility for the first time in 2013. An upper ridge should keep most of Alabama rain-free today and tomorrow with a partly to mostly sunny sky; any showers will be confined to the region near the Georgia border.

TO THE WEST: Another significant severe weather event is expected today, with SPC defining a “moderate risk” of severe weather from far North Texas, through the eastern half of Oklahoma, into Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. A slight risk extends as far north as the Great Lakes. Like yesterday, a few tornadoes are likely, along with storms with large hail and damaging wind.

The risk creeps eastward tomorrow, with the standard “slight risk” from East Texas to the Great Lakes, but no part of Alabama is in the risk tomorrow as our weather should remain dry.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: We will bring in the chance of scattered showers and storms for all of Alabama, but the main dynamic support will weaken and lift well north of here, so severe storms are not expected in our state. A shower or two is still possible on Thursday as a cold front moves through the state. Rain amounts Wednesday and Thursday should be generally one-half inch or less, and additional flooding issues are not expected (East Alabama had major flash flooding Saturday morning, and the ground is saturated there).

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: These three days looks delightful. Sunny warm days, fair cool nights. Highs in the 80s, lows in the 60-65 degree range, although cooler spots should visit the 50s early Friday and Saturday morning. Humidity levels will be lower thanks to continental air.

LONG RANGE: Still no sign of any organized severe weather issues in Alabama through the end of May. And, just for fun, the GFS shows a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico in the June 3-4 time frame. This, of course, is pure voodoo, but the hurricane season does begin June 1, so it always bears watching. The most active tropical weather generally comes in August and September.

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. We will produce this week’s show tonight at 8:30 p.m. CT… you can watch it live on our cable channel “James Spann 24/7″… or on the web here.

CONNECT: You can find me on all of the major social networks…

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Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 4:00 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!

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Storms continue to slowly build southwestward this evening over Northeast Alabama into more unstable air to the southwest, aided by a cold pool of air aloft that is edging in from Georgia.

The storm over Marshall County has gotten quite strong with torrential rain, the possibility of small hail and strong gusty winds. It is not severe, however.

It is building back into northeastern Blount County, near Snead and Susan Moore. It will push south and southeast into Etowah County, as well as eastern Blount and across much of St. Clair County. Be alert to any flooding that develops, especially given all of the extreme rains that occurred on Saturday.

Other storms have grown quickly over St. Clair County between Ashville and Springville.

Strong storms have moved out of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties, pushing into Clay and Randolph Counties. They are not severe, but also have lot of torrential rain, lightning and even the possibility of some small hail.

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Strong storms continue over Northeast Alabama at this hour.

They are over Jackson and DeKalb Counties, down through Cherokee County, into Calhoun and Cleburne Counties.

Another strong storm has formed southwest of Gadsden in Etowah County.

The storms are not severe, but have plenty of lightning, torrential rains and gusty winds.

The storms are moving southeast, but the activity is trying to redevelop southwestward along the leading edge of a pool of cold air aloft that is spreading out like a big blob from the storm complex over Georgia.

The flash flood watch continues for Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne and Randolph Counties till 7:00 PM CDT for the heavy rainfall.

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The NWS, Media and Spotters are tracking a large tornado now just north of Luther, Oklahoma. It will be tracking very near Wellston shortly.

Here is streaming video from KFOR.

Another confirmed tornado is on the ground right now near Udall, KS.

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A ridge of high pressure is building in from the west. Over Georgia, strong and severe thunderstorms have been ongoing from this morning and now into the afternoon. These storms are sending out an outflow boundary into eastern Alabama. This boundary is interacting with the very warm, moist air mass and is providing enough uplift to get showers and a few thunderstorms to develop. The main threat from storms that develop today will be the chance for damaging winds. Areas to the east of Interstate 65 and stretching from Huntsville, Gadsden, Anniston, Auburn and Phenix City are included in this risk, Birmingham, Montgomery and areas to the west are not.

We will also have to monitor the area for a flooding threat as well. The showers and storms that form will be impacting the same areas that received 5-9 inches of rain Saturday morning and caused widespread flash flooding.

The risk is outlined in green on the map and once again only includes areas in East Alabama.

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