740 
FXUS64 KBMX 120749
AFDBHM

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
247 AM CDT SAT OCT 12 2002

UPDATED FOR DENSE FOG ADVISORY.

VISIBILITIES CONTINUE TO DROP OVER EASTERN ALABAMA...SO WILL GO
AHEAD AND ISSUE A DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR THAT AREA.

LOW CLOUDS AND FOG AREAWIDE THIS MORNING.  KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON
VISIBILITIES.  RIGHT NOW...ONLY THE NORTHEASTERN AND EASTERN
COUNTIES ARE REPORTING LOW VISIBILITIES.  FOR RIGHT NOW...JUST PLAN
ON MENTIONING AREAS OF DENSE FOG IN THE ZONES...BUT MAY NEED TO GO
WITH A DENSE FOG ADVISORY BEFORE THE MORNING IS OVER.

MORE SUNSHINE YESTERDAY THAN INITIALLY EXPECTED...SO TEMPS GOT WARMER
THAN I HAD THOUGHT.  AFTER MORNING FOG BURNS OFF...EXPECT TO SEE
SOME SUNSHINE OVER MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA AGAIN TODAY...SO WILL
GO WITH HIGHER NUMBERS THAN MOS IS GIVING.  IE CLOSER TO MAV
GUIDANCE.

DONT EXPECT HIGH PRECIP CHANCES THROUGH THE WEEKEND.  ONLY SLIGHT
CHANCE TODAY AS WEAK UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM PUSHES EASTWARD ACROSS
SOUTHERN ALABAMA.  WILL ALSO KEEP SLIGHT CHANCE IN TONIGHT AS COLD
FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH.  INITIAL FEELING IS THAT THE FRONT
WILL MOVE THROUGH FAIRLY DRY...WITH ONLY ISOLATED AREAS OF
RAINFALL.

THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE STATE BEGINNING EARLY SUNDAY.
STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WILL HELP TO DRIVE DRIER AIR SOUTHWARD DURING
THE DAY ON SUNDAY.  EXPECT GUSTY SURFACE WINDS DURING THE DAY...AND
ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED AT SOME POINT DURING THE DAY ON SUNDAY.

PRELIMS FOLLOW:

HSV 083/059 064/041 062 2220
BHM 083/063 067/045 063 2320
MGM 085/066 075/050 066 3330

.BHM...DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR EASTERN HALF OF ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM.