James Spann: Rain for Alabama tonight; much colder air returns Thursday
James Spann has the midweek forecast for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
MILD AFTERNOON; RAIN TONIGHT: Temperatures will warm to near 60 degrees across Alabama today; it will be the warmest day of the week, and most likely the warmest day for the next two weeks. Clouds will increase, and rain will creep into the northwest corner of the state by late afternoon ahead of a cold front. Rain is likely over the northern half of the state tonight as the front pushes southward.
A fairly complex winter weather pattern is ahead for the next two days.
THURSDAY: As cold air rushes into the northern counties of Alabama Thursday morning, there could be some light freezing rain or freezing drizzle north of a line from Sulligent to Cullman to Scottboro, and an attendant chance of some light bridge icing. We’re not expecting widespread issues, but travelers need to be aware of that potential. A cold rain will fall on the rest of the state, ending from north to south during the day. Temperatures will hold in the 30s, and some communities across the Tennessee Valley will hover around freezing all day.
FRIDAY: A wave of low pressure forms along the front in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and precipitation will spread northward again. With cold air in place, a period of freezing rain is likely Friday morning in a broad zone from Mobile to Montgomery to Lafayette. This won’t be a crippling ice storm, but it could lead to some bridge icing, so if you are traveling over southwest or central Alabama be aware of that potential during the morning.
To the north, some light snow or snow flurries are possible Friday over parts of east and northeast Alabama, where the cold air is deeper. But models continue to trend drier, and odds of accumulating snow or travel impact look low at this point.
Temperatures will remain in the 30s all day Friday pretty much statewide.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: The weekend will be cold and dry with mostly sunny days and fair nights. After a low well down in the 20s Saturday morning, the high Saturday afternoon will be in the mid to upper 40s, followed by a high between 47 and 51 degrees Sunday afternoon.
NEXT WEEK: Monday will be dry with a high in the 50s. Another low forms in the Gulf of Mexico Monday night, and rain will return to the state Tuesday. For now thermal values look too warm for any wintry precipitation. Dry weather returns Wednesday through Friday with temperatures at or below average.
ON THIS DATE IN 1961: Eight inches of snow fell and caused crippling traffic jams around the Washington, D.C., area on the eve of John Kennedy’s inauguration. The president-elect had to cancel dinner plans and, in a struggle to keep other commitments, reportedly had only four hours of sleep. Former President Herbert Hoover was unable to fly into Washington National Airport due to the weather, and he had to miss the swearing-in ceremony.
ON THIS DATE IN 2008: A winter storm brought 3 to 5 inches of snow across parts of Marengo, Dallas, Perry and Chilton counties in central Alabama. Amounts in the Birmingham metro were generally less than one-half inch.
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