James Spann: Alabama stays dry through Friday with warm afternoons
MARVELOUS MARCH MONDAY: After a cold start with many communities below freezing, temperatures have reached the low 70s in many areas this afternoon with sunshine in full supply. Tonight will be clear with a low between 35 and 45 degrees, as a very dry air mass continues to cover the region.
REST OF THE WEEK: Dry weather continues with a warming trend. Look for a sunny sky Tuesday and Wednesday with low to mid 70s, then partly sunny Thursday and Friday with a high around 80 degrees.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Saturday will be partly sunny and warm, with a high between 77 and 83 degrees. Clouds will increase Sunday, and rain and thunderstorms could reach Alabama Sunday night. The Storm Prediction Center has parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and east Texas outlooked for severe thunderstorms Sunday, but it looks like the dynamic support will weaken as the storms move into Alabama, and for now the overall severe weather threat here looks low.
NEXT WEEK: Rain and storms will end at some point during the day Monday, followed by dry weather Tuesday and Wednesday. Another system will bring the next batch of rain and thunderstorms to the state Thursday or Friday. It’s too early to know whether severe storms will be an issue. Highs will be mostly in the upper 60s and low 70s through the week.
ON THIS DATE IN 1909: The town of Brinkley, Arkansas, was struck by an estimated F4 tornado that killed 49 people. The tornado, which was two-thirds of a mile wide, destroyed 860 buildings. Entire families were killed as houses were completely swept away by the storm.
ON THIS DATE IN 1998: Three days of heavy rain sent floodwaters from Beaver Dam Creek churning through the small south Alabama town of Elba as a levee gave way. Of the town’s 4,000 residents, 2,000 had to evacuate as 6 feet of water covered the downtown. Very cold weather would follow the flooding just three days later, with temperatures in the area dropping into the middle 20s.
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