West Alabama Tuesday Briefing

It is Tuesday February 20, 2024.

The National Climate Prediction Center's latest forecast shows there will be a transition from El Nino. There is a 55% possibility for La Nina conditions beginning in June and over a 70% chance for La Nina to appear in August.

So, what does that mean? El Nino produces a jet stream across the southern U.S. with more storm systems during the winter and spring.

La Nina moves the jet stream farter northward with lower wind shear across the tropics and Atlantic.

Combined with sea surface temperatures already above normal, this typically means at the minimum there will be a normal hurricane season, but it can also mean an above normal season.

The Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season, which includes the Gulf of Mexico, begins on June 1st. NOAA will issue its official hurricane season forecast in May. Colorado State University will issue their preliminary hurricane season forecast in April.

There is no concern for any type of severe weather today with plenty of blue sky.

The Forecast:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 41.

The Weekend: Sunny days and clear nights. High temperatures in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Lows near 40 to upper 40s.

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Topping the News:

It was a contentious evening at last night's Northport City Council meeting. Council Member Jamie Dykes was the lone dissenting vote on the planned $350 million water University Lagoon project on U.S. 82 west approved at last night’s council meeting.

With an overflow crowd in attendance the meeting became chippie as many residents opposed the project. Some in the crowd didn't necessarily oppose the project but rather voiced concern about the spotty record of developer University Beach LLC. The city says there are built in safeguards.

Developer predicts 440 thousand annual visitors for the project that will include not only the water park but residential and retail space as well as restaurant and hotel spaces.

Two bills that would legalize gambling and set-up a commission to control it easily passed the house last week, but the senate is going to be a different situation. The bills are not even up for debate this week in the Alabama Senate However, the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus is expected to meet today to discuss and gauge support for the comprehensive gambling proposal.

Some senate Republicans take issue with the gaming proposal that passed through the House. Some want to eliminate casinos others oppose sports betting and still other do not want online gaming available.

Alabama Republican U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville believes Democrats will try to find another presidential candidate other than Jo Biden. "I think he is going to push it as far as he can," the former Auburn football coach told the Steve and DC Morning Show today. "I don't know whether they can get him out."

"I feel sorry for him at times," Tuberville added, "The guy doesn't know what day it is most of the time.

The first term senior senator claimed the incumbent president is not making his own decisions. He told listeners that it's the people around the president that are making the decisions for him.

"I can't think of one that they have made that has really helped the American people or made our country better, Tuberville told Steve and DC. He called Biden's first term a disaster.

Gov. Ivey spent some time in her State of the State Address earlier this month backing a healthcare sciences high school to be placed in Demopolis. Tuscaloosa County Legislative Delegation Members Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa), Rep. Artis McCampbell (D-Livingston), Rep. Bill Lamb (R-Tuscaloosa), and Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) introduced the legislation.

Under the bill, the school would be funded in part by the state, and would open for the fall semester of 2026, with teens from across the state eligible to attend. The school would house 400 students total – 100 per grade – and is estimated to cost around $62 million.

The bill is being slowed down by some lawmakers who claim there are inconsistencies in a favorable feasibility study. Members of the Tuscaloosa County Delegation claim the slowdown is a result of actions taken by lawmakers who want the school in their district.

New money is on the way to high school skilled trade programs to help get more workers into the construction industry. The commercial construction industry is facing a severe shortage of workers. This new grant will allow schools to build a skilled workforce and meet those demands. Schools can apply for up to $20,000 annually per construction program, up to a maximum of five programs.

The beginning of the primary severe weather season in Alabama is just over a week away. That means Alabama’s severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday begins Friday.

The Alabama Department of Revenue will waive the state sales tax on certain severe weather preparedness items.

Consumers can purchase certain items without the state sales tax starting at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, through midnight on Sunday, Feb. 25. Local sales tax may still apply.

Below is a list of qualifying items:

• Batteries
• NOAA weather radios
• Flashlights
• Duct tape
• Plywood
• Non-electric food storage coolers
• Ice packs
• Self-contained first aid kits
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Smoke detectors
• Gas or diesel fuel tank or container

Any portable generator with a sales price of $1,000 or less can also be purchased without state sales tax.

For a complete list of eligible items, click here. For a complete list of participating counties and municipalities, click here.

Topping Sports:

For the first time in Alabama football history, the head coach has used social media to his advantage. New Coach Kalen DeBoer broke Nick Saban's longstanding aversion to social media yesterday by acknowledging three Crimson Tide players, Dylan Lonergan, Jalen Hale and Bryson Hubbard for their success in the classroom. "Great work gentlemen," DeBoer posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

William Byron put the No. 24 Chevrolet in victory lane in the rain delayed 2024 Daytona 500 to launch Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary season. It has been a decade since a Hendrick car won the iconic season opening race.

On the strength of Saturday's blowout win over Texas A&M the Alabama Men's Basketball Team moved up to 13th from 15th in this week's AP College Football Poll. The Tide hosts Floriday tomorrow night.

Have a terrific Tuesday!!