James Spann: Sunny weather continues with a big warm-up for Alabama today
James Spann forecasts beautiful weather for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
COLD START: Temperatures are below freezing early this morning over parts of Alabama. Here are some readings just before sunrise:
- Black Creek — 23
- Decatur — 26
- Fort Payne — 26
- Gadsden — 27
- Haleyville — 27
- Hueytown — 28
- Meridianville — 28
- Cullman — 29
- Sylacauga — 30
- Selma — 30
- Anniston — 31
- Alexander City — 31
- Demopolis — 31
- Huntsville — 32
- Prattville — 32
- Tuscaloosa — 33
- Greenville — 33
- Birmingham — 34
- Montgomery — 35
- Mobile — 42
Look for a nice warm-up across Alabama today; with sunshine in full supply the high will be between 68 and 73 degrees. The average high for Birmingham on March 8 is 65.
REST OF THE WEEK: The weather stays dry with a warming trend through Friday thanks to an upper-air ridge over the area. Look for low 70s Tuesday, mid 70s Wednesday and highs around 80 degrees Thursday and Friday.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Saturday will be partly sunny and warm, with a high between 78 and 83 degrees. The day Sunday looks dry, but clouds will likely increase and we will bring in a chance of rain and thunderstorms Sunday night. The Storm Prediction Center has parts of Arkansas and Louisiana in a severe weather risk in their outlook for Sunday, but for now it looks like the dynamics will be weaker as the system moves into Alabama. It’s certainly something to keep an eye on as the week progresses.
NEXT WEEK: The pattern becomes more active as the ridge weakens across the region. After a chance of rain or storms Monday, another system looks likely toward the end of the week; it’s too early know whether severe thunderstorms will be an issue. Highs through the week will be close to 70 degrees.
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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