James Spann: Scattered showers, storms for Alabama Friday, then a dry, cooler weekend
RADAR CHECK: Widely scattered showers are over central and east Alabama this afternoon; otherwise the sky is partly sunny across the state with temperatures generally in the 80s. The scattered showers will diminish after sunset.
Another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms is likely across Alabama Friday afternoon and evening as a cold front pushes into the state. The chance of any one spot getting wet over the northern half of the state is 35-45%, and some of the storms could be strong. The Storm Prediction Center maintains a low-end, marginal risk of severe thunderstorms north of a line from Butler to Marion to Wilsonville to Piedmont.
Heavier storms from 1 until 8 p.m. could produce strong, gusty winds and small hail (no tornado risk). Look for a high in the mid 80s.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: Cooler, drier air rolls into the state late Friday night, and we expect delightful weather for the holiday weekend. Look for sunny, pleasant days and fair, cool nights Saturday through Monday. Highs will be only in the mid to upper 70s Saturday and Sunday, followed by mid 80s Monday. Morning lows will be mostly in the 50s, but colder spots will reach the 40s early Sunday morning, unusually cool for Memorial Day in Alabama.
REST OF NEXT WEEK: Moisture returns Tuesday with some risk of scattered showers; then we expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms daily Wednesday through Friday as an upper trough slowly approaches from the west. Highs will be in the 80s.
SEC BASEBALL: A brief, heavy shower moved through Hoover around 2:45 this afternoon, but the weather should be dry for the rest of the evening and tonight. A passing shower or storm is a decent possibility Friday afternoon; then the weekend will be dry with sunshine in full supply Saturday and Sunday, along with lower humidity levels. The high will be in the 80s Friday, dropping into the 70s over the weekend.
TROPICS: The Atlantic basin remains quiet; tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend. The official start to the Atlantic season is next Tuesday.
ON THIS DATE IN 1973: An F4 tornado touched down northeast of Demopolis and traveled northeastward across central Alabama. The tornado produced significant damage in Greensboro, Brent, Centreville, Montevallo, Columbiana, Wilsonville, Childersburg and many areas in between. It lifted near Mount Cheaha. In Greensboro, 72 people were injured and one person was killed. Ninety percent of the town of Brent was destroyed, killing five people and injuring 56. In all, 216 buildings were destroyed, 570 buildings were damaged, 97 mobile homes were destroyed and 45 businesses were damaged or destroyed. More than 12,000 acres of timber was destroyed.
The same evening an F3 touched down northeast of Tarrant and traveled through Center Point, where most of the damage from this storm occurred. One person was killed, and 32 frame homes and 48 mobile homes were destroyed. More than 300 homes sustained minor damage in this area, as well. The storm then continued northeast, passing south of Springville, near St. Clair Springs, just to the north of Ashville and lifted near Gadsden.
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