James Spann: Clearing for Alabama today; some rain over the weekend
James Spann forecasts a dry end for the Alabama work week from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
DRIER AIR MOVING IN: The weather is cloudy and cold across Alabama this morning with temperatures mostly in the low to mid 30s; we expect the morning clouds to give way to a mostly sunny afternoon as drier air continues to push into the state. The high this afternoon will be in the mid 40s over the northern counties; the average high for Birmingham on Dec. 17 is 55.
Tonight will be clear and cold; we drop well down into the 20s early Friday. Then, during the day Friday, we rise into the mid 50s with a good supply of sunshine.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: The latest model data suggests the day Saturday will be dry with a high in the upper 50s, although clouds will be increasing. A few periods of rain are likely Saturday night into part of the day Sunday; for now it looks like the main window for showers will come from midnight Saturday night through noon Sunday. The best chance of rain Sunday afternoon will shift down into the southern half of the state. Otherwise, Sunday will be cloudy with a high close to 60.
CHRISTMAS WEEK: Dry weather is the story for the first half of the week with sunny, pleasant days and fair, cool nights; the high will be in the upper 50s Monday, followed by low 60s Tuesday and Wednesday. A cold front will bring a batch of showers into the state late Wednesday night into part of the day Thursday. Some thunder is possible, but no severe storms are expected. Much colder air rolls into the Deep South at the end of the week; Christmas Day looks mostly sunny and cold, with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s.
NORTHEAST U.S. WINTER STORM: Heavy snow continues this morning over parts of the Northeast, including Boston, where winter storm warnings remain in effect. Binghamton, New York, reports almost 3 feet of snow this morning.
ON THIS DATE IN 1903: On the morning of Dec. 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright took turns piloting and monitoring their flying machine in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Orville piloted the first flight that lasted just 12 seconds and 120 feet. On the fourth and final flight of the day, Wilbur traveled 852 feet, remaining airborne for 59 seconds. That morning, the brothers became the first people to demonstrate sustained flight of a heavier-than-air machine under the complete control of the pilot. Kitty Hawk was selected after writing the U.S. Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., requesting a list of suitable places on the East Coast where winds were constant.
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