**No afternoon Weather Xtreme video today due to travel**

ON THE ROAD: If you need help programming a weather radio, come by the Publix on Rice Mine Road in Tuscaloosa this evening… we will be there from 3:30 until 7:00 p.m.

SUN ACTING UP: Lots of buzz about the big solar flare last night, and the CME (coronal mass ejection) headed toward Earth.

Solar activity like this is not unusual, but the CME is pretty intense, and we just might have a chance of seeing auroras down here in the low latitudes. This is from spaceweather.com…

GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE: A CME propelled toward Earth by this morning’s X5-class solar flare is expected to reach our planet on March 8th at 0625 UT (+/- 7 hr). Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, who prepared the CME’s forecast track, say the impact could spark a strong-to-severe geomagnetic storm. Sky watchers at all latitudes should be alert for auroras.

Note that 0625 UT is 12:25 a.m. here in Alabama… a little after midnight.

Unfortunately, clouds will probably get in our way.

THE ALABAMA WEATHER STORY: Tomorrow looks mostly cloudy and very mild with a high in the mid 70s. We will bring in the chance of showers late in the day and tomorrow night.

Friday will be wet at times with a pretty decent chance of showers, and possibly a thunderstorm or two. Severe weather is not expected, thankfully. Rain amounts of around 1/2 inch look likely.

OUR WEEKEND: The new model data still shows Saturday to be a relatively dry day, with only a small risk of a shower and a high in the upper 60s with a mix of sun and clouds. We will mention some chance of a few passing rain showers Sunday and Monday, but rain amounts probably will be on the light side with no major dynamic support. Highs will hold in the 60s, about where we should be for this time of the year.

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. We will record this week’s episode tonight at 8:30 p.m. CST… you can listen live via uStream.

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Kids from Piedmont will be on the Pepsi KIDCAM this evening… the 2nd graders at 5:00, and the 6th graders at 6:00. I spoke today to the pre-school at First Baptist of Columbiana… look for them tomorrow at 5:00 on the Pepsi KIDCAM. The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow….

Category: Alabama's Weather