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If the NCDC is right, maybe they can still use the critters anyway, by flipping the theory around, so if he predicts warmth, you go with winter & vice versa. I think this is called “Inverse Forecasting”. Looking towards the sky, Mercury is reappearing from the glow of sunset and day by day will become easier to see. Using binoculars, look for him on a clear evening starting about 30 minutes after sunset, just above the west-southwest horizon. Venus is buried deep in the glow of sunrise. Mars is very near Mercury, though fainter. On February 7th and 8th, they pass less than 1If the NCDC is right, maybe they can still use the critters anyway, by flipping the theory around, so if he predicts warmth, you go with winter & vice versa. I think this is called “Inverse Forecasting”. Looking towards the sky, Mercury is reappearing from the glow of sunset and day by day will become easier to see. Using binoculars, look for him on a clear evening starting about 30 minutes after sunset, just above the west-southwest horizon. Venus Continue reading
Hi everyone, This month’s newsletter will be shorter than usual as well as being little tardy. The ALERT website has been moved to a new more advanced and secure server at Cahaba Internet. This required a new callout and general email list, which are now operational. The new website https://alert-alabama.org/blog/ is operational, but, “under construction”. Russell, KV4S, is working on the website features, and on transferring some of the old “relevant” content from the old site to the new site. Russell is looking for some images, preferably weather related, for the site. If you have any decent to high quality images, with a width of 1000 pixels and a height of 288 pixels please send them to Russell. Congratulations are in order for the National Weather Service forecast offices in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Jackson, Mississippi, which have been awarded the Department of Commerce Silver Medals for their efforts during the tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011. The Continue reading
Hi Everyone,
December is here and you know what this means don’t you? Yes you’re right; it’s time for the ALERT Christmas party! You are all cordially invited to the ALERT Christmas party Tuesday, December 11 at the NWS Forecast Office. This is a Pot Luck affair, which means you bring your own pot, meaning a pot with food in it, a covered dish, or desert. Bring your spouse, kids, and perspective members and be prepared to have Christmas fun!
Christmas is my favorite time of the year.
Christmastime is a time of wonder & mystery. A time of bright lights, shining trees and the time of hide and seek, as presents are hid from inquiring minds and fingers.
A time one’s mind and memories drift back to days of childhood, and Christmases now long gone by. Remembering friends and family, some here, some now gone & longing that they were near once again, as it was once upon a time not so long ago. And, it is a time when, if we allow ourselves and don’t choose to “Grinch out” and be sour pusses, we can become kids once again.
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Hi everyone,
I hope this finds you well, and untouched by the hobgoblin attack of the 31st. We had no trick or treaters this year, so you know what that means. Yes, I have to eat ALL of the candy. Which is a tough job, but someone has to do it.
As we watch the Northeast recovering from the regional disaster caused by Hurricane Sandy it is to be remembered that November has arrived and with it our second tornado season. It is also to be remembered that some years the fall tornado season proves to be more active than the spring season.
With this in mind, this month’s ALERT newsletter will focus on training, with a review ALERT’s operational procedures. Please print out these instructions, keep and study them.
Also, remember that most of our “real training” is from “on the job experience”. In other words, please don’t be afraid to respond to a callout even if you feel need more training. 90 percent of our training is “learning by doing” under the supervision of seasoned mentor. That’s how I did it. My training was with David Black KB4KCH “showing me the ropes” during a callout many years ago.

ALERT / National Weather Service Birmingham Coverage Area

  • ALERT covers the BMX county warning area. Presently, this includes: Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston