James Spann: Long dry spell ahead for Alabama, with cool nights

Published On: 09.29.20 |

By: James Spann

James Spann: Long dry spell ahead for Alabama, with cool nights

RADAR CHECK: We still have a few patches of light rain over southeast Alabama, but the sky has become partly sunny across much of the state as drier air punches into the state in the wake of a passing long-wave upper trough. The average high for Birmingham on Sept. 29 is 81; some east Alabama communities are 20 degrees below that level this afternoon. We are seeing low to mid 70s over on the western side of the state, where the sun is back in full force. Tonight will be clear and cool; the low early Wednesday will be in the 48- to 52-degree range for most places.

REST OF THE WEEK AND THE WEEKEND: A long period of dry weather is ahead for the state. Look for sunny, pleasant days and clear, cool nights through Saturday. The high will be in the mid to upper 70s Wednesday and Thursday, but closer to 70 Friday and Saturday as a new surge of cool air arrives. Lows will be in the 40s and 50s; the coolest morning will come early Saturday, when some of the traditionally colder spots across north Alabama could reach the upper 30s for the first time this season.

An upper trough will pass through Sunday, bringing some clouds, but at this point the air looks too dry for any measurable rain. The best chance of a sprinkle will be over the Tennessee Valley; the high will be in the mid 70s.

NEXT WEEK: Dry, pleasant autumn weather continues with highs mostly in the 70s and lows in the 50s.

RACE WEEKEND: The weather looks good for NASCAR fans. Look for sunny days and clear nights Thursday through Saturday at Talladega, with highs mostly in the 70s and lows in the 40s and 50s. The coolest morning will be early Saturday, when temperatures will drop into the 40- to 45-degree range. For the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, we expect a partly sunny sky with a high in the mid 70s.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: We’ll have perfect autumn weather for the high school games Friday night. The sky will be clear, with temperatures falling from the mid 60s at kickoff into the 50s by the second half.

Saturday, Alabama will host Texas A&M at Bryant-Denny Stadium (2:30 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be sunny with a kickoff temperature around 75 degrees, dropping to near 70 by the final whistle.

Auburn is on the road, taking on Georgia in Athens Saturday (6:30 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be clear; temperatures will fall from near 70 at kickoff to near 60 by the fourth quarter.

UAB has a home game Saturday at Legion Field (11:30 a.m. kickoff) against UTSA; the sky will be sunny with temperatures rising into the mid 70s during the game. It will be a perfect day for college football across the Deep South.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin remains quiet for now, but the National Hurricane Center is upping the chance of development in the western Caribbean to 50% by the end of the week or the weekend ahead. If anything forms in this region, it will most likely drift westward.

ON THIS DATE IN 1927: An outbreak of tornadoes from Oklahoma to Indiana caused 81 deaths and $25 million damage. A tornado, possibly two tornadoes, cut an eight-mile-long path across St Louis, Missouri, to Granite City, Illinois, killing 79 people.