James Spann: Storms return to Alabama Wednesday, a freeze Friday morning
BLUE SKY: The sky is clear all across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures mostly in the mid to upper 60s. The average high for Birmingham on March 29 is 70. Tonight will be clear and cool with a low in the 40s.
Clouds will increase Tuesday with a warmer afternoon; temperatures will reach the upper 70s in most places. A few showers are possible across Alabama Tuesday night ahead of a cold front.
That front will bring a band of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday; the Storm Prediction Center maintains a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for most of the state.
Thunderstorms on Wednesday will be capable of producing hail and strong, gusty winds. The chance of a tornado is low, but not zero. The main line of storms will enter northwest Alabama around 7 a.m. Wednesday; it should be around I-59 (Tuscaloosa/Birmingham/Anniston) around 1 p.m. and near Montgomery by 4 p.m. Rain amounts of around 1 inch can be expected.
SUBFREEZING MORNINGS AHEAD: The sky will clear Wednesday night as drier, colder air rolls into the state. Thursday will be sunny with a cold morning; we will be around freezing to start the day, followed by a high in the mid to upper 50s. The coldest morning will come early Friday, when temperatures drop into the 25- to 32-degree range over the northern half of the state. Some frost is likely down into south Alabama. The day Friday will be sunny with a high in the upper 50s.
The weekend will stay dry with sunny days, fair nights and a warming trend. We reach 65 to 70 degrees Saturday, followed by low 70s Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: The warming trend continues, with a good chance we rise into the low 80s by Wednesday. The first half of the week will be dry; showers and storms return late Thursday into Friday.
THURSDAY’S TORNADOES: National Weather Service Birmingham has identified 10 tornadoes from last Thursday’s severe weather event, including an EF-3 that was down for 50.36 miles from near West Blocton in Bibb County to Camp Winnataska in St. Clair County. This is the one that produced extensive damage in places like Helena, Pelham, Eagle Point and Shoal Creek. The Ohatchee-Wellington tornado in Calhoun County was rated EF-2; it was on the ground for 24 miles and was responsible for five fatalities.
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