James Spann: Warm weekend for Alabama, then strong to severe storms Monday
WARM MARCH AFTERNOON: Temperatures are generally between 77 to 81 degrees across Alabama this afternoon with a partly to mostly sunny sky. Tonight will be mostly fair with a low between 55 and 60 degrees.
The weather won’t change much this weekend — warm and mostly dry with partly sunny days. An isolated shower can’t be totally ruled out over the northern quarter of the state Saturday, but odds of any one spot getting wet are low. Temperatures will remain well above average, with highs mostly in the low 80s.
To the west, a major storm system will bring very heavy snow to parts of Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska and strong to severe thunderstorms to parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana over the weekend.
NEXT WEEK: Showers and thunderstorms will move into Alabama Monday. Model guidance continues to show increased surface-based instability, and new guidance suggests there will be sufficient dynamic support for a few strong to severe thunderstorms over the northern half of the state. Some of the thunderstorms Monday could produce hail and strong, gusty winds. An isolated tornado can’t be ruled out.
The best chance of rain Tuesday will be over the southern half of the state, but rain and storms are likely statewide Wednesday. This wave could bring the most potent severe weather threat of the week, but it is too early to be specific about the threat. Rain ends early Thursday, followed by a clearing sky and dry air for Thursday afternoon and Friday. Highs will be in the 70s Monday through Wednesday and in the 60s Thursday and Friday.
ON THIS DATE IN 1993: The “Blizzard of 93” was underway across Alabama. It came in mid-March, when the flowers were blooming, and was one of those very rare times when all 67 counties in Alabama had a snow cover. Totals included:
- 20 inches at Walnut Grove
- 17 inches at Valley Head
- 16 inches in Oneonta and Bessemer
- 13 inches at Anniston, Talladega, Pinson, Birmingham
- 12 inches at Thomasville, Childersburg, Scottsboro
- 11 inches at Sylacauga
- 10 inches at Cullman, Clanton and Heflin
- 9 inches in Thorsby
- 8 inches in Ashland, Centreville, Moulton and Guntersville
- 7 inches in Alexander City, Huntsville and Whatley
- 6 inches in Camden, Evergreen, Jasper, Livingston, Andalusia, Haleyville and Highland Home
- 5 inches in Auburn, Winfield, Muscle Shoals and Chatom
- 4 inches in Montgomery, Union Springs, Vernon, Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Frisco City, Greenville, Troy
- 3 inches at Brewton, Hamilton, Bay Minette, Mobile Airport
- 2 inches at Atmore and Robertsdale
- Trace at Fairhope and Coden
Remember, this does not count drifts. Those drifts were humongous in some areas, especially by Alabama standards — 5 to 6 feet deep in parts of the Birmingham metro area. The official Birmingham snowfall of 13 inches was recorded at the airport. Naturally, there was more in the higher terrain.
Hurricane-force wind gusts accompanied the snow on ridges, and there was convective snow complete with thunder and lightning. Some had no power for more than a week after the event, and travel was shut down for two to three days.
South of Alabama in the warm sector of the system, a vicious squall line swept through Florida and spawned 11 tornadoes resulting in five fatalities.
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