Noon Update: Clouds in the Birmingham/Anniston areas, partly cloudy, mostly elsewhere: Alabama Weather Blog

Looking at the big old blue marble this morning, a mass of clouds covers much of the eastern United States thanks to a weak trough extending from Ohio to Alabama. The disturbance that brought us rain overnight is moving across eastern Tennessee with some showers in the Carolinas and Georgia.

Many showers and storms are lined up from the northern plains through the central plains and into Oklahoma. Severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect along the Red River between Texas and Oklahoma, and the SPC just issued a red alert as those storms are expected to strengthen. The watch includes Vernon, Texas, Lawton, Ardmore, Wichita Falls, Denton, Sherman and Jacksboro. Several strong storms are already in effect. Precipitation could be excessive in places in stormy areas.

We are clear of severe weather today through Tuesday, according to SPC.

The Plains mostly monopolize the risk of severe weather today, with the highest risk in the Elevated category (level 3 of 5). The risk bleeds across southeast Texas into the southwestern half of Louisiana.

A large mass of rain is moving along the Oregon and Washington coasts in the Pacific Northwest.

The Alabama forecast was well-behaved, following what the convection-allowing models predicted. A flash flood warning was required for parts of Lamar, Fayette, Walker and southern Marion counties, with 5-6 inches of rain falling across southeastern Marion and western Walker counties, but at least no flooding problems were reported.

Skies are mostly cloudy in central parts of Alabama, with partly cloudy skies elsewhere. A few showers and thunderstorms were forming over the Tennessee Valley. There are a few showers south of Logan Martin Lake and in Hale County southeast of Moundville.

Showers should be isolated at best through tonight for north and central Alabama. They will be more widespread across South Alabama. Same for Monday, just scattered showers during the day with a few larger showers moving into South Central Alabama Monday evening.

Highs this afternoon will mostly be in the 80s. If some areas retain cloud cover, they will be slightly cooler. Birmingham is at 76F at this hour. Muscle Shoals is already at 82F.

Category: Alabama Weather, ALL POSTS, Severe Weather