West Alabama Tuesday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama. It is Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

Tuesday Morning Observations:

Could there be an end to dry conditions in West Alabama coming? The answer is it will be more a reprieve than an end

Rain the forecast the remainder of the work week will amount mainly from 1/2"to 1" across the area and it will be widely scattered. The Storm Prediction Center has highlight all of West Alabama with a chance for general thunderstorm activity and Mobile County with a Marginal (1 in 5) risk for severe weather late tomorrow and tomorrow night. However, that will not do much to slow down the strengthening drought. However, there is some hope next week.

This weekend and first part of next week will remain dry but an upper-level trough is expected to form mid-week next week bringing potential for strong thunderstorms, significant rainfall and seasonal temperatures. However, it is still way too early to be certain of the systems strength.

As if to remind us that hurricane season does not end until November 30, there is tropical weather forming. But again, don't buy into the hype of some social media posters that will offer uninformed predictions of doom-and-gloom.

The National Hurricane Center gives it a 70 percent chance of developing; and if the system becomes a tropical storm, it will be named “Sara”. Modeling suggests it could enter the far southern Gulf of Mexico before turning northeast, meaning some possible impact for South Florida in 7-10 days

We will keep an eye on it just in case.

(The opinions expressed in Morning Observations are not necessarily those of the ownership, management or staff of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

Weather:

There will be a slight chance for rain tonight southwest of an Aliceville to Boligee to Uniontown line. Wednesday the rain will be more widespread with greater intensity. Rain chances dissipate by the weekend, however.

The Forecast

Today

Sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Tonight

Increasing clouds, with a low around 57. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 59. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 45.

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Topping the News:

Pickens County has 18 days from today to find funding to operate its one ambulance or lose the emergency medical service completely. Currently only one ambulance service the county of some 19,000 residents.

Loss of the one ambulance would require residents needing an emergency medical response to depend on an ambulance from an adjacent county of a more expensive medivac helicopter flight.

Aliceville Mayor Terrance Windham says the county's future is at stake.

A long-range legislative plan for a surcharge on county license plates cannot move forward until the legislature meets next year.

$9-million worth of work on Highway 5 in Jasper is running ahead of schedule according to ALDOT. The bridge where Highway 5 cross over Highway 78 in Walker County is a critical part of the construction. Motorists will soon see new traffic lights.

23 wildfires are burning across the state as drought conditions worsen. However, no wildfires have been reported in West Alabama counties this morning.

Alabama Forestry Commission crews point out it will take extended significant rainfall to end the drought and wildfire threat.

The new fire station adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Plant is now operational on U.S. 11. Funding for the station is split between the City of Tuscaloosa and Mercedes.

Read More: Tuscaloosa Opens New Fire Station to Serve Mercedes Vehicle and Battery Plants

Men of Integrity, JD Byrider Tuscaloosa, Townsend Nissan Tuscaloosa and Buddy's Grocery are partnering to present their fifth annual Single Parent Thanksgiving Food Giveaway.

They have 25 turkeys to place in boxes with other donated non-perishable food and are looking for families in need to distribute them to on November 21st.

Read More: Tuscaloosa Car Lots Giving Thanksgiving Meals to 25 Single-Parent Homes, Recipients Needed

Topping Sports News:

The Alabama Men's Basketball Team could not consistently find the basket during the second half after building a 21-point lead and had to hold on to edged McNeese State 72-64 at Coleman Coliseum last night.

The second ranked Tide faces its first major challenge of the pre-conference season at #13 Purdue Friday.

Read More: Nate Oats Frustrated With Team Performance Following Victory Over McNeese State

The improvement in the Crimson Tide's offensive line as the football season has progressed has not escaped notice. Alabama's O-Line has been named a Joe Moore Award Semifinalist. The award is presented annually to the best offensive line in the country.

Read More: Alabama Offensive Line Named Joe Moore Semifinalist

Kalen DeBoer has to be having a hard time wiping the smile off his face after his Crimson Tide football team dismantled a highly regarded LSU team in vaunted Death Valley on a Louisiana Saturday night.

But he has to turn his attention to keeping 'rat poison' away from his team as they host Mercer in the next to the last Bama home game of the season Saturday. The Bears are 9-1 and on a three-game winning streak. Their only loss was a blowout by Samford on Oct. 19.

Read More: Kalen DeBoer During Monday’s Press Conference

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

Have a terrific Tuesday!