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Hot and dangerous heat levels across Alabama this Thursday<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday, July 18 \u2013 ALABAMA<\/strong> \u2013 A blistering hot and humid day<\/strong> is underway across much of Alabama<\/strong>, with high temperatures reaching the mid 90s (93\u201396\u00b0F \/ 34\u201336\u00b0C)<\/strong>. But it\u2019s not just the air temperature that\u2019s concerning\u2014heat index values<\/strong> are soaring between 100\u00b0F and 107\u00b0F (38\u201342\u00b0C)<\/strong> statewide. For the northern two-thirds of Alabama<\/strong>, this places conditions well into the danger range<\/strong>, triggering an ongoing Heat Advisory<\/strong> for parts of West and North Alabama<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, for areas in South Alabama<\/strong>, the Heat Advisory threshold<\/strong> is higher\u2014heat indices of 108\u00b0F (42\u00b0C)<\/strong> or greater are required before the National Weather Service issues alerts.<\/p>\n Stay alert to symptoms of heat-related illnesses<\/strong>, especially during peak afternoon hours. It\u2019s worth remembering: heat is the leading weather-related killer<\/strong> in the United States every year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Storm relief possible but scattered<\/strong><\/p>\n The only potential break<\/strong> from the oppressive heat<\/strong> today will come in the form of scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms<\/strong>, driven by increased tropical moisture<\/strong> moving through the northern Gulf<\/strong>. Rain chances<\/strong> are slightly higher today and Friday<\/strong>, ranging from 40% to 60%<\/strong>, especially in southern Alabama<\/strong>. These storms may be random and isolated<\/strong>, but they could bring brief, localized cooling. Friday\u2019s high temperatures<\/strong> are forecast to drop slightly into the lower 90s (89\u201392\u00b0F \/ 32\u201333\u00b0C)<\/strong> thanks to increased cloud cover<\/strong> and higher rain probabilities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Birmingham almanac for July 17<\/strong><\/p>\n On this date, Birmingham\u2019s historical average high<\/strong> is 91\u00b0F (33\u00b0C)<\/strong> and the average low<\/strong> is 72\u00b0F (22\u00b0C)<\/strong>. The record high<\/strong> stands at a sweltering 105\u00b0F (41\u00b0C)<\/strong>, set back in 1980<\/strong>, while the record low<\/strong> of 60\u00b0F (16\u00b0C)<\/strong> was recorded in 2014<\/strong>. On average, 0.19 inches<\/strong> of precipitation falls on this date, but the daily record<\/strong> is 1.74 inches<\/strong>, set in 1916<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the tropics: Invest 93L fading, but rain lingers<\/strong><\/p>\n Invest 93L<\/strong>, a broad low-pressure system<\/strong> situated just south of the Mississippi coastline<\/strong>, continues to slide westward, but the chance for development is decreasing<\/strong> rapidly. The shower and thunderstorm activity<\/strong> remains disorganized<\/strong>, mostly located to the west and southwest of the center<\/strong>. While there’s still a low 30% chance of formation<\/strong> into a tropical depression<\/strong> before it moves inland into Louisiana<\/strong>, time is running out.<\/p>\n Regardless of development, this system is already producing heavy rainfall<\/strong> and could lead to localized flash flooding<\/strong> along the north-central Gulf Coast<\/strong>, including parts of Mississippi<\/strong>, Alabama<\/strong>, and the Florida Panhandle<\/strong>, through Friday<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Across the USA: Heat, floods, and storms<\/strong><\/p>\n An active weather pattern<\/strong> continues across the continental U.S.<\/strong>, with a slow-moving cold front<\/strong> stretching from the Northeast<\/strong> and Mid-Atlantic<\/strong> into the central Plains<\/strong>, generating a mix of severe weather<\/strong> and flash flooding<\/strong>. The Central Gulf Coast<\/strong> remains a hot spot for heavy rainfall<\/strong>, while widespread extreme heat<\/strong> affects the East Coast<\/strong>, Southeast<\/strong>, Ohio Valley<\/strong>, and the Lower Mississippi Valley<\/strong>. This heat dome is intensifying the already dangerous heat conditions<\/strong> for tens of millions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Looking ahead: Summer pattern holds through next week<\/strong><\/p>\n As we move toward the weekend and beyond, Alabama<\/strong> will stay under the grip of a classic summer setup<\/strong>\u2014sunshine during the morning hours<\/strong>, followed by scattered afternoon storms<\/strong>. These are airmass thunderstorms<\/strong>, triggered by strong daytime heating<\/strong> and high humidity<\/strong>, typically forming between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n High temperatures this weekend will remain in the low 90s (90\u201393\u00b0F \/ 32\u201334\u00b0C)<\/strong>, and the overall pattern is unlikely to shift significantly next week. This is the heart of what meteorologists refer to as the \u201cDog Days of Summer,\u201d<\/strong> when weather patterns become stagnant and heat feels unrelenting.<\/p>\n However, by next week, an upper ridge<\/strong> is forecast to build over the Deep South<\/strong>, bringing sinking air<\/strong>, which leads to increased heating<\/strong>. This will push highs into the mid to upper 90s (95\u201398\u00b0F \/ 35\u201337\u00b0C)<\/strong> and lower the rain chances<\/strong> to 20%\u201330%<\/strong>, though storms are still possible thanks to high instability<\/strong> fueled by dew points<\/strong> in the low to mid 70s\u00b0F (21\u201324\u00b0C)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dog Days of Summer: Ancient origins, modern relevance<\/strong><\/p>\n The phrase \u201cDog Days of Summer\u201d<\/strong> stems from ancient Greek and Roman beliefs<\/strong>, referring to the stretch from July 3 to August 11<\/strong>, when Sirius<\/strong>\u2014the Dog Star<\/strong>\u2014rises just before the Sun<\/strong>. Ancient civilizations believed the combination of Sirius<\/strong> and solar heat<\/strong> produced the season\u2019s most oppressive weather<\/strong>. Associated with drought<\/strong>, sickness<\/strong>, and irritability<\/strong>, the Dog Days were seen as a cursed period<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Today, while the astrological connection<\/strong> has faded, the term still resonates to describe the suffocating heat and exhaustion<\/strong> of late July<\/strong> and early August<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beach conditions: Dangerous rip currents persist<\/strong><\/p>\n From Dauphin Island<\/strong> to Panama City<\/strong>, life-threatening rip currents<\/strong> continue to create hazardous conditions along the Gulf Coast<\/strong>. Swimmers\u2014regardless of experience\u2014are urged to stay out of the water<\/strong>, as local authorities<\/strong> monitor and enforce beach safety<\/strong> through flag warning systems<\/strong>. These conditions are expected to ease slightly<\/strong> to a moderate risk<\/strong> by Saturday and Sunday<\/strong>, but extreme caution<\/strong> remains necessary.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting: rip currents are the leading cause of weather-related fatalities<\/strong> along the Alabama<\/strong> and Northwest Florida coastlines<\/strong>, areas monitored by National Weather Service offices<\/strong> in Mobile<\/strong> and Tallahassee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hot and dangerous heat levels across Alabama this Thursday Thursday, July 18 \u2013 ALABAMA \u2013 A blistering hot and humid day is underway across much of Alabama, with high temperatures reaching the mid 90s (93\u201396\u00b0F \/ 34\u201336\u00b0C). But it\u2019s not just the air temperature that\u2019s concerning\u2014heat index values are soaring between 100\u00b0F and 107\u00b0F (38\u201342\u00b0C) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":6218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n