James Spann: Very cool air arrives in Alabama Wednesday, some frost early Thursday
James Spann forecasts cooler weather ahead for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
COLD FRONT ARRIVES EARLY WEDNESDAY: Today will be another dry, pleasant day for Alabama. Look for a partly sunny sky with a high between 74 and 78 degrees this afternoon. Clouds will increase tonight ahead of a sharp cold front, which will pass through the state mostly in dry fashion during the early morning Wednesday. A few sprinkles are possible over the northern third of the state; measurable rain isn’t expected.
Wednesday will be sunny but much cooler following the frontal passage; the high will be in the mid to upper 50s for much of north Alabama with a northwest wind of 15-25 mph making it feel cooler. The wind dies down Wednesday night, and with a clear sky we project low temperatures between 33 and 40 degrees for most of north and central Alabama early Thursday morning. Frost is likely, and a few of the normally colder spots could briefly touch the freezing mark. During the day Thursday we expect a high in the mid 60s with a good supply of sunshine.
Friday will be another dry day; with a mix of sun and clouds, temperatures reach the mid to upper 60s by afternoon. Clouds will increase Friday night, and some rain is possible after midnight.
STORMY SATURDAY: A dynamic weather system will bring widespread rain and thunderstorms to Alabama Saturday. The Storm Prediction Center has defined a risk of severe thunderstorms for about the southern half of the state, generally south of U.S. 80 (Demopolis to Selma to Montgomery to Opelika).
Heavier storms over south Alabama Saturday could produce strong winds, and there is some potential for a brief tornado or two. All of the state will see a good soaking, with rain amounts of 1-2 inches likely. Some isolated flooding could develop during the day; Saturday’s high will be in the low to mid 70s.
But the weekend won’t be a total washout. Sunshine returns Sunday with a high in the mid 70s.
NEXT WEEK: The weather will be warm and dry Monday and Tuesday, with highs at or just over 80 degrees. The next weather system brings a chance of rain and storms back to the state late Wednesday or Thursday; it’s too early to know whether severe storms will be an issue.
RACE WEEKEND: It will be a challenge to get the races in Saturday at Talladega; rain and thunderstorms are likely much of the day with a high in the 70s. But Sunday will be a delightful day for the running of the Geico 500; the sky will be sunny with a high between 73 and 77 degrees.
ON THIS DATE IN 1920: Tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama killed 219 people. Six tornadoes of F4 intensity were reported. Aberdeen, Mississippi, was hard hit by an F4 tornado that killed 22 people. This same tornado killed 20 in Marion County, Alabama. Nine people in one family died in Winston County.
ON THIS DATE IN 2004: A strong F3 tornado moved across the town of Utica, near LaSalle-Peru in north-central Illinois. This tornado destroyed several homes, a machinery building and a tavern. The roof of the tavern collapsed, killing eight people inside; many of these people had come into town from nearby mobile homes, seeking sturdier shelter.
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