Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, May 20, 2017

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
353 PM EDT Sat May 20 2017

.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...

Deep layer moisture continues to increase ahead of an approaching
upper level trough and associated cold front. Scattered convection
currently lifting northward mainly over SE AL and our Georgia zones
will diminish later this evening. However, new convective
development, possibly an MCS will approach and move into our western
zones overnight. PoPs will be tapered from likely (70%) far west to
chance (30-40%) for most of the eastern Big Bend. Lows will be in
the lower 70s.

.SHORT TERM [Sunday Through Monday Night]...

Deep layer ridging will gradually break down through the period as
a shortwave moving through the Great Lakes region amplifies and
spreads into the Mississippi Valley. At the surface, a frontal
boundary will just be entering the Southeast on Sunday and will
only gradually move towards the Tri-State region as steering flow
remains mostly zonal as the upper trough slowly amplifies.

On the mesoscale, the aforementioned MCS (whose evolution is still
a bit uncertain) should be moving through southeast Alabama and
the Florida panhandle early Sunday morning. This complex should
generally trend towards moving into the Gulf through the morning.
This should tend to limit convection west of a line from
Tallahassee through Albany during the afternoon, with
outflow/seabreeze driven convection expected to the east. While
the front won't be in our area by Sunday night, more convection
moving off of the front could enter the region overnight. On
Monday, with the front reaching our westernmost Alabama and
Florida counties, convection will likely be driven by the front as
well as the seabreeze further to the east. Overnight on Monday, a
southern stream shortwave will enhance convection along the front
along and west of a line from Albany through Panama city.

Due to the potential for a couple MCS' as well as the multiple
forcing mechanism, this solution is highly fluid and uncertain.
However, regardless of exactly how it plays out, it appears as
though most of the region should pick up a fair amount of QPF.
Through Monday night, average rainfall amounts could range from an
inch in the southeast Big Bend to 3-4" across the far western
Panhandle and southeast Alabama. Widespread severe weather is not
expected though an isolated strong to severe storm with the main
threat being damaging winds will be possible

.LONG TERM [Tuesday Through Saturday]...

With the cold front still lingering across the region on Tuesday,
it appears as though another southern stream wave will energize
the front once again late on Tuesday. It won't be until Wednesday
evening that the main northern stream trough will have moved far
enough southeast to force the cold front through the region. In
its wake dry conditions will prevail through the period with
possibly one night of lows in the upper 50s and an afternoon in
the lower 80s.

&&

.AVIATION [Through 18Z Sunday]...

Sct to numerous SHRA/TSRA will briefly drop VSBYs to MVFR levels
this afternoon into the evening, especially at DHN and ABY. Most
if not all convection will diminish later this evening but is
expected to return overnight as an MCS moves into our western
zones.

&&

.MARINE...

Borderline Cautionary level winds will continue through this
evening before light winds and low seas will prevail through
Monday night. As the front nears and then passes Tuesday through
Thursday, wind should increase to at least Cautionary levels and
possibly Advisory. Showers and thunderstorms should be expected
through Wednesday night.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

No fire weather concerns are anticipated through the next few days
with light winds and RH values remaining too high to meet critical
thresholds.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...

Widespread average rainfall amounts from now until Wednesday night
could range from 3" over the southeast Big Bend to 6" over the
western Panhandle. Isolated higher amounts a couple inches higher
will be possible as well. Latest ensemble guidance indicates that
these amounts could push our more sensitive rivers (Shoal,
Choctawhatchee, Ochlockonee, etc.) into Action stage. By Thursday
or Friday. These amounts still remain rather uncertain, so pay
attention to changes over the next few days.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

Tallahassee   71  86  71  85  71 /  30  50  30  60  30
Panama City   74  79  73  80  74 /  60  80  50  50  40
Dothan        71  83  69  86  69 /  50  80  50  50  60
Albany        71  86  69  86  70 /  40  50  50  50  60
Valdosta      70  86  70  83  71 /  40  70  40  70  30
Cross City    70  89  71  88  72 /  40  50  20  40  20
Apalachicola  75  86  73  85  74 /  30  50  40  50  20

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

FL...High Rip Current Risk until 11 PM EDT /10 PM CDT/ this evening
     for Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

GA...None.

AL...None.

GM...None.

&&

NEAR TERM...Barry
SHORT TERM...Harrigan
LONG TERM...Harrigan
AVIATION...Barry
MARINE...Harrigan
FIRE WEATHER...Lahr
HYDROLOGY...Harrigan