James Spann: Dry days, hot afternoons ahead for Alabama
RADAR CHECK: While most of Alabama is dry this afternoon, light rain continues to fall across some of the northern and western counties, and a band of heavier thunderstorms is over Mobile County. For the rest of the state, the sky is partly to mostly cloudy with temperatures mostly between 75 and 80 degrees. The sky will stay mostly cloudy tonight and rain will end after sunset.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: A strengthening upper ridge will bring dry weather to Alabama, along with a warming trend. Look for a mix of sun and clouds Wednesday, followed by sunshine in full supply Thursday and Friday. The highs will be in the low 80s Wednesday, followed by mid 80s Thursday and upper 80s Friday.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Sunny weather continues Saturday and Sunday, and we expect temperatures to reach 90 degrees for the first time this year in many places. Afternoon highs will be between 88 and 92 degrees, with lows in the 60s.
NEXT WEEK: With a strong upper high overhead and bone-crushing subsidence, hot and dry weather will continue through most of the week. Model data suggests we will reach the mid 90s during the first half of the week, close to record levels. Here are the record highs:
- May 24 (Monday) — 96 (1996)
- May 25 (Tuesday) — 95 (1962)
- May 26 (Wednesday) — 97 (1962)
On the positive side, the upper ridge means the tornado season for Alabama and the adjacent states, for all practical purposes, is over.
ON THIS DATE IN 1883: A massive tornado outbreak affected northern and central Illinois. At least 14 strong to violent tornadoes touched down, killing 52 people. The largest death toll from a single tornado was 12, with 50 injuries, from an estimated F4 tornado that moved from near Jacksonville to 5 miles west of Petersburg. This tornado destroyed the town of Literberry.
ON THIS DATE IN 1980: Mount Saint Helens erupted, spewing ash and smoke 63,000 feet into the air. Heavy ash covered the ground to the immediate northwest, and small particles were carried to the Atlantic coast.
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