West Alabama Thursday Briefing

Good Thursday morning West Alabama! It is September 19, 2024.

Don't buy into the hype and hysteria some are trying to create about that tropical disturbance between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba. There are social media weather amateurs out there right now predicting doom and gloom about what that system will do and where it will go as it strengthens. And there is a significant number of them predicting (not forecasting) that it will become a major hurricane and head for the Central Gulf Coast and impact next weekend's Geargia at Alabama football game at Saban Filed at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Folks, they don't know because the degreed and experienced tropical forecast team of meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center in Miami report they don't know yet.

There is zero chance of strengthening over the next two days. After that the NHC is forecasting a 40% chance of strengthening. Here is the NHC's official forecast:

"A broad area of low pressure could form by early next week over the western and northwestern Caribbean Sea. Thereafter, gradual development of this system is possible, and a tropical depression could form as the system moves slowly to the north or northwest over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and into the southern Gulf of Mexico through the middle part of next week."

Yes, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are historically warm, which is prime for tropical weather breeding. And yes, indications are that it will eventually slowly begin to move north or northwest." But that is where the NHC leaves off forecasting and the Daffy Ducks of social media take over with their guessing.

What the NHC does say this morning: "Computer modeling is all over the place forecasting any future track. Right now, it is not known when the disturbance will strengthen, it is not known when, or if, it will start moving and right now there are no significant steering indicators for an accurate forecast of what direction it will move in."

So, the best action to take right now is just, keep an eye on the gulf. After all, Daffy Duck is not a meteorologist.

The Forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Calm wind.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.

Friday Night

Clear, with a low around 67. Calm wind.

The Weekend

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Topping the News:

Since the recent shooting at a North Georgia high school online threats locally, across the state and nationally have increased significantly. There were incidents involving local school yesterday.

In the Tuscaloosa City School System, a loaded magazine was found during a random search at Paul Bryant High Schoo. No weapons were found. A statement from TCS informed that the situation is being handled accord to the student code of conduct.

In the Tuscaloosa County School System, a statement from Superintendent Dr. Keri Johnson stated a student believed responsible for an online threat has been secured.

In both cases further investigation is taking place.

Read More: TCS Releases Statement Concerning Recent Possible School Threats

Read More: Threat At Holt High School Results In Student Investigation

A federal judge in Birmingham granted Black Warrior River Keeper's request to approve a Consent Decree which would Warrior Met Coal (WMC) to fix its leaking coal slurry impoundment, as well as stop discharging polluted wastewater without a permit at Mine No. 7 near Brookwood.

WMC purchased the mine near Brookwood following Walter Energy’s 2015 bankruptcy.

Read More: Judge Approves Settlement Requiring Cleanup of Warrior Met Coal’s Mine No. 7

When Paul "Bear" Bryant passed streets, bridges, buildings and already a stadium were named after him due to the impact he had on UA, locally, statewide and across the country. Now the recent retirement of Nick Saban is sparking a wave of naming's and renaming's in honor of the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time).

The Saban Center is the most prominent structure in his and Miss Terry's honor. The there is "Nick's Kids" a street named after his foundation that helps children. And the most recent is Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

There is a hint that more naming's may be set for the future.

Read More: Nick Saban Street Coming Soon?

A news service for UA students is coming from UBER. It is called Uber One program, a membership that saves on Uber and Uber Eats.

UA is one of 14 college campuses where UBER is showing off special pricing and discounts.

According to the services website, "With Uber One for Students, eligible students can access benefits such as savings on Uber and Uber Eats for $4.99 a month or $48 annually."

The Tuscaloosa Water System has been awarded three prestigious awards for this past year:

Best operated distribution system for the city's size.
Best operated surface water treatment plant awarded to the Jerry Plott.
The three-year award for best operated plant to the Jerry Plott Plant.

In his Mayor's Minute online post, Mayor Walt Maddox lauded the work by employees who brought home the awards, "There three awards bring Tuscaloosa Water's total awards of excellence to 60! Please join me in congratulating the Tuscaloosa water team for this remarkable achievement.

The UA campus will be one of the many sites that will participate in a nationwide day of protests of the War in Gaza next week. The protest will highlight several demands of the UA System:

Stop allowing Lockhead-Martin to recruit on campus.
Break off UA's official role as a "partner university" of Lockhead Martin
Rename Hewson Hall which is named after Marilyn Hewson.
Disclose a list of investments made using UA's endowment fund and divest from corporations that are supporting the genocide in Gaza.
Stop conducting research funded by the Department of Defense.
Release a public statement calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza

The protest is scheduled for 5:00pm Tuesday on the UA Quad next to Denny-Chimes.

The Tuscaloosa City School Board is asking residents to vote for next Tuesday's 11-mill property tax increase in the city. They point out the money will be used for programs that will continue the system's improvement and provide for better school safety. A yes vote next Tuesday will provide $17 million directly to the school system.

The board also addressed an anti-tax increase political action group called "Stop the Big Tax" that is funded largely by powerful real estate, apartment management and developers.

Board chair Eric Wilson said the ant-tax political action committee is outright lying when they claim the school system has mismanaged existing funds.

Topping Sports News:

There are no games involving West Alabama area high school football teams on tonight's schedule. However, there will be a full state of contests tomorrow night.

Georgia is a currently a 3-point favorite against Alabama in next week's big game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Oddsmakers have set a total score over/under of 49.5 points. Las Vegas money is trending toward the Bulldogs.

Next week's Tide and Bulldogs game will kick off at 6:30 CDT and will be aired on ABC 3340.

Former President Trump will be in attendance and there is a rumor about that ESPN's "College GameDay" may also be in town.

Click TuscaloosaThread.com throughout the day for West Alabama news, sports and weather updates. Better yest, download the app.

Have a terrific Thursday.