James Spann: No rain for Alabama through early next week; heat levels rising
SUNNY MAY DAYS: A strong upper high over the eastern third of the U.S. will keep Alabama’s weather rain-free through the weekend. With a mostly sunny sky this afternoon, temperatures are mostly in the low to mid 80s, very close to seasonal averages. Gusty east-southeast winds continue across the state due to a tight pressure gradient; they will die down after sunset. Tonight will be mostly fair with a low in the 60s.
Heat levels will rise Friday through the weekend with sunny days and fair nights. The high will be between 84 and 89 degrees Friday, and most communities should reach 90 degrees for the first time this year Saturday. Low 90s are likely Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: Afternoon highs will be in the mid 90s early next week, very close to record levels. Here are the daily record highs for Birmingham:
- May 24 (Monday) — 96 (1996)
- May 25 (Tuesday) — 95 (1962)
- May 26 (Wednesday) — 97 (1962)
In addition to being hot, the weather will be dry for the first half of the week. The upper ridge weakens a bit Thursday and Friday, and a few isolated showers could show up, but nothing widespread.
TROPICS: A non-tropical low-pressure system about 650 miles east-northeast of Bermuda is moving northward, and recent satellite wind data indicate that the system has gale-force winds. The low is expected to turn westward and west-southwestward over warmer waters tonight and Friday, and it will likely become a subtropical cyclone near and northeast of Bermuda Friday. The system is expected to move north and northeast into a more hostile environment by late Sunday into Monday. The name will be Ana. There are no systems near the U.S.
ON THIS DATE IN 1957: A tornado touched down southwest of Kansas City, Missouri, and traveled 71 miles, cutting a swath of near-destruction through the southeastern suburbs of Ruskin Heights and Hickman Mills. The tornado claimed the lives of 45 people and left hundreds homeless. It was the worst weather disaster on record for Kansas City. About all that remained of one house were a small table and a fishbowl atop, with the fish still swimming about inside the bowl. A canceled check from Hickman Hills was found in Ottumwa, Iowa, 165 miles away. Pilots reported debris at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
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