textproduct: NWS Birmingham

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 134 AM CDT WED JUL 22 2026

- Tropical: Tropical Storm Bertha will move slowly to the west across the Northern Gulf Coast through this week. At this time, no significant impacts are expected for Central Alabama.

- Heat: A Heat Advisory remains in effect through this Wednesday evening across generally the western half of Central Alabama. Afternoon heat indices will range between 103 and 106 degrees.

DISCUSSION

(Today through Tuesday) Issued at 134 AM CDT WED JUL 22 2026

Guidance and NHC tract continue to keep Tropical Storm Bertha moving to the west and hugging the Louisiana Gulf Coast today and Thursday before likely making landfall along the Southeast Texas Coast Thursday night. Impacts from Bertha`s westward track for Central Alabama will be southeast to south-southeast winds slightly elevated with a few minor gusts, but under wind advisory for today and convection across mainly the southeast half of the area. At the same time, upper high pressure will be situated from Colorado to West Texas to Oklahoma. Northwest upper flow will result across the Dakotas and Upper Plains from being wedged between the ridge and an Eastern Canada low. Also over Eastern Canada will be a surface low moving eastward that will drag a front across New England and into the Deep South including Northern Alabama by late today with favorable assistance from the upper northwest flow. However, this front is expected to stall across the middle part of Alabama Thursday. It is expected to remain across Central Alabama through late Friday into early Saturday before pushing back northward as a warm front. This will keep the area in a wet pattern more so after Bertha departs, into this weekend.

While most of the convection from Bertha is along the southeast sections, hot and humid air will continue to allow for heat indices to approach up to the 103-106 range for the west sections for one more day today again. A heat advisory remains in effect. The good news is that increased rain chances and a surface front moving into the area will lower temperatures some for Thursday into this weekend which should keep us just below heat advisory criteria. However, the reprieve will be short lived. Over the weekend, the upper ridge slowly expands/nudges eastward. This will result in hotter temperatures returning back to Central Alabama and only isolated diurnal convection. This also means a medium to high chance that heat advisories will be needed again by next Monday and Tuesday for portions of the area.

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AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 115 AM CDT WED JUL 22 2026

There is a medium to high chance for MVFR cigs in the morning between roughly 12-17z. More scattered afternoon convection is expected, with the best chances south. Mentions during the afternoon are at MGM and AUO where the best moisture will be present. Otherwise, southeast to south-southeast winds will be present as Bertha moves west along the Louisiana Coast.

Note: AMD NOT SKED for KAUO due to a weather observation outage.

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FIRE WEATHER

Through this weekend, rain will remain in the forecast with MinRH values staying above 50 percent. Given the warm and humid air mass, and continued chances for rain, fire weather concerns remain little to none at this time.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Gadsden 93 74 89 72 / 30 50 70 70 Anniston 91 74 89 73 / 30 30 70 70 Birmingham 93 76 90 74 / 20 20 60 60 Tuscaloosa 94 76 91 75 / 20 20 60 50 Calera 95 75 93 74 / 20 20 60 40 Auburn 90 74 90 75 / 40 30 50 20 Montgomery 93 75 93 75 / 40 20 50 20 Troy 90 73 92 73 / 50 20 40 10

BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for the following counties: Autauga-Bibb-Chilton-Dallas-Fayette-Greene-Hale- Jefferson-Lamar-Lowndes-Marengo-Perry-Pickens-Shelby-Sumter- Tuscaloosa-Walker.