James Spann forecasts a warmup for Alabama later today from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

ANOTHER COLD START: For most of Alabama, this is the coldest morning so far this season. Here are some temperatures just before daybreak:

• Gadsden — 30
• Fort Payne — 30
• Hueytown — 31
• Haleyville — 31
• Cullman — 32
• Talladega — 32
• Scottsboro — 32
• Good Hope — 32
• Sylacauga — 33
• Decatur — 33
• Demopolis — 34
• Anniston — 34
• Alexander City — 34
• Montgomery — 35
• Northport — 35
• Dothan — 38
• Mobile — 40

A warming trend begins this afternoon. With sunshine in full supply, we expect a high in the mid 60s. Dry weather continues through Friday with sunny days and fair nights; highs will be in the low 70s Wednesday and Thursday, followed by mid 70s Friday.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Moisture levels will rise a bit, but the weather will stay dry. Look for a partly to mostly sunny sky Saturday and Sunday with highs in the mid 70s.

NEXT WEEK: We’re still seeing evidence some risk of rain could return by midweek; highs will remain mild, mostly 70s.

TROPICS: Hurricane Eta is basically on the coast of Nicaragua this morning with sustained winds still at 150 mph. Catastrophic wind damage is expected where Eta’s eyewall is moving onshore. Rainfall associated with Eta will lead to catastrophic, life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding, along with landslides in areas of higher terrain of Central America.

The National Hurricane Center forecast track shows Eta curving back into the western Caribbean this weekend with reorganization and intensification. From there, some long-range models suggest the system could enter the southeast Gulf of Mexico. There is no way to resolve the specific track and intensity beyond seven days, but it is clearly something to watch.

ON THIS DATE IN 1966: An early-season snowfall that started Nov. 2 whitened the ground from Alabama to Michigan. Mobile had its earliest snowflakes on record; Huntsville picked up 4 inches of snow. Just three days later, temperatures rebounded back into the 60s, and Alabama spent a work week in the 70s following the snow.

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