James Spann: Dry weather for most of Alabama through the weekend
James Spann forecasts warm March weather for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
ANOTHER BIG WARM-UP TODAY: Again this morning, a few spots across Alabama are below freezing; here are some temperatures just before daybreak:
- Gadsden — 28
- Fort Payne — 30
- Pell City — 30
- Haleyville — 31
- Talladega — 32
- Scottsboro — 32
- Sylacauga — 33
- Decatur — 33
- Meridianville — 33
- Anniston — 35
- Tuscaloosa — 36
- Montgomery — 39
- Mobile — 42
- Birmingham — 43
We warm quickly today with a strong March sun; look for a high between 70 and 75 degrees this afternoon.
REST OF THE WEEK: Most of the state will stay dry Wednesday through Friday; we will mention just the risk of isolated showers over the northwest corner of the state Friday. We will have partly sunny days and fair nights, with highs between 76 and 82 degrees.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Expect just a few isolated showers for the northwest corner of the state; otherwise the weather will be dry Saturday and Sunday with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s. Clouds will increase Sunday night ahead of a storm system to the west that will bring potential for severe storms during the day Sunday for states like Arkansas, Louisiana and the eastern part of Texas and Oklahoma.
NEXT WEEK: Showers and thunderstorms will push into Alabama Monday. At this point the risk of severe storms looks low, with weakening dynamics and not much surface-based instability, but we will keep a close eye on parameters as the system approaches. The surface front will stall out, keeping rain in the forecast on Tuesday and possibly part of the day Wednesday. Colder air returns to the state late in the week, and the latest Climate Prediction Center outlook for March 16-22 suggests temperatures in Alabama will be below average.
TIME CHANGE: We go back on Daylight Saving Time this weekend; we lose an hour of sleep as the clocks will be moved forward one hour Saturday night. Sunset time Sunday evening at Birmingham will be 6:54 p.m.
ON THIS DATE IN 1957: An earthquake measuring a magnitude 8.6 struck the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. A Pacific-wide tsunami was generated that caused damage in Hawaii, but fortunately no lives were lost. Hardest hit was the island of Kauai, where houses were destroyed and roads washed away. Waves reached 34.1 feet high at Haena, Hawaii.
ON THIS DATE IN 2011: Moderate to heavy rainfall spread across Alabama, resulting in widespread flash flooding and river flooding. Rainfall totals ranged from around 6 inches in western Alabama to 2 to 4 inches elsewhere. In addition, a line of thunderstorms with areas of embedded rotation moved through central Alabama, knocking down trees and power lines and causing structural damage at several locations.
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