James Spann: Big warm-up for Alabama today

Published On: 04.30.18 |

By: James Spann

James Spann: Big warm-up for Alabama today

James Spann forecasts the warmest weather so far this year from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

COLD START: This might be our last morning to see lows in the 30s across colder pockets of north and central Alabama until the fall. Here are some temperatures across the state just before daybreak:

Black Creek — 33
Cullman — 35
Fort Payne — 36
Gadsden — 37
Haleyville — 37
Hueytown — 38
Heflin — 37
Alexander City — 38
Talladega — 39
Pell City — 39
Selma — 39
Anniston — 40
Birmingham — 43
Tuscaloosa — 44

Look for a big warm-up today; with sunshine in full supply we reach the upper 70s this afternoon. Tonight will be clear, with a low in the 50s by early tomorrow morning.

REST OF THE WEEK: A building upper ridge over the eastern third of the nation will bring the warmest weather so far this year to Alabama. Look for a high in the low 80s tomorrow, mid 80s Wednesday, and mid to upper 80s Thursday and Friday. We’ll have sunny days, fair nights and no threat of rain, despite a major severe-weather threat across the nation’s midsection Wednesday.

The system responsible for the active weather across the nation’s heartland Wednesday will weaken and lift well to the north of Alabama; we might consider mentioning a small risk of a shower Friday afternoon over northwest Alabama, but the ridge will generally hold through the end of the week.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A surface front will drift down into the northern part of the state Saturday; we will mention scattered showers and thunderstorms, but there is little upper support, and it certainly won’t rain all day. Some sun is possible Saturday with a high around 80. Then, the Global Forecast System model suggests a weak wave of low pressure will move along the front Sunday, with a higher coverage of showers and thunderstorms. But again, no total washout, and no severe storms are expected. Sunday’s high will be back in the upper 70s with more clouds than sun.

NEXT WEEK: The first half of the week looks warm and dry as the upper ridge rebuilds.