James Spann: Much colder air for the Alabama weekend
SPRING-LIKE DAY: Temperatures across Alabama this afternoon are generally between 66 and 72 degrees, well above the average high of 58 for Feb. 11. The sky will remain mostly fair tonight with a low in the 40s for most places.
COLD CHANGE: Clouds will move into Alabama Saturday as a cold front passes through in dry fashion. Over the northern half of the state, temperatures will fall into the 40s by mid to late afternoon with a chilly north breeze. South Alabama will see highs in the 60s again, but they will feel the colder air Saturday night.
By daybreak Sunday, we project lows between 20 and 26 degrees. During the day, temperatures will struggle to get past the mid 40s despite a partly to mostly sunny sky.
NEXT WEEK: The weather will be dry with mostly sunny days during the first half of the week, with a warming trend. The high will be in the low 50s Monday, followed by low 60s Tuesday and upper 60s Wednesday. A dynamic weather system will bring rain and thunderstorms to the state Thursday and Thursday night. Based on the projected wind profiles and instability values, severe thunderstorms will be possible across Alabama and the Deep South. It is too early to know the magnitude of the threat, but it looks like all modes of severe weather will be possible, including tornadoes. Plan on being very weather aware Thursday; drier air returns Friday.
ON THIS DATE IN 1962: A powerful F3 tornado struck Holstebro in Denmark, causing devastating damage. More than 100 houses were severely damaged or destroyed, making this event the most devastating tornado in Denmark’s history. The tornado could have been a low-end F4.
ON THIS DATE IN 1965: An F3 tornado moved through Aliceville in west Alabama. Twelve homes were demolished and another 42 sustained varying degrees of damage. A church, motel, cotton mill and several commercial buildings were heavily damaged. One farm sustained extensive damage. Several injuries occurred in and near Aliceville, but no fatalities were reported.
ON THIS DATE IN 2014: A winter storm brought snow to the northern third of Alabama; some communities north of Birmingham received more than 5 inches. The system would evolve into a major nor’easter and would bring 15 inches of snow to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.
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