James Spann: Freezing rain near the Alabama coast; cold, dry elsewhere
James Spann forecasts a cold conclusion for the Alabama work week from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
RADAR CHECK: A wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet is falling across parts of Mobile and Baldwin counties early this morning, where a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the potential for scattered bridge icing. Otherwise, it is a dry, cold morning with temperatures mostly in the 20s over the northern two-thirds of Alabama. Precipitation today will be confined to the far southern part of the state in the broad zone from Mobile to Dothan; the rest of the state will be cold and dry with a mix of sun and clouds. The high this afternoon will be between 38 and 42 degrees; the average high for Birmingham on Jan. 21 is 55.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Look for sunshine in full supply both days; the highs will be in the mid 40s Saturday and close to 50 Sunday afternoon. Early morning temperatures will be very cold, with lows between 18 and 24 degrees.
NEXT WEEK: Monday will be dry with a high in the 50s. The next wave brings rain back to the state late Monday night and Tuesday. Amounts should be around one-half inch, and there is no risk of severe thunderstorms. The weather will be dry Wednesday through Friday with below-average temperatures.
ON THIS DATE IN 1985: It was one of the coldest mornings on record across Alabama and the entire eastern half of the U.S. At least 126 deaths were blamed on the cold snap. Some 90% of the citrus crop in Florida was destroyed in what the state called the “Freeze of the Century.” Florida’s citrus industry suffered $1.2 billion in losses as a result of the inclement weather. The public inauguration of President Ronald Reagan for his second term was held in the Capitol Rotunda instead of outside due to the cold weather, canceling the inaugural parade.
Some low temperatures across Alabama on Jan. 21, 1985:
- Huntsville — minus 11
- Muscle Shoals — minus 11
- Birmingham — minus 6
- Anniston — minus 5
- Tuscaloosa — minus 1
- Montgomery — 0
- Mobile — 3
ON THIS DATE IN 2017: A total of 12 tornadoes touched down across the southern half of Alabama, including an EF-2 in parts of Choctaw and Marengo counties that injured four people. Four of the 12 tornadoes were in Lee County.
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