James Spann: Huge temperature contrast in Alabama today, with a few showers
BIG THERMAL CONTRAST: A nearly stationary front across Alabama is producing a huge temperature contrast at mid-afternoon. At 2 p.m. temperatures across the state ranged from 47 at Muscle Shoals and Decatur to 84 at Ozark, a 37-degree swing. The front was along a line from near Fort Payne to Gardendale to Greensboro and Butler, and it has stopped moving since it is parallel to the upper air flow. We note a few showers over northwest Alabama on radar, but much of the state is dry.
A few widely scattered showers are possible tonight as the front begins to move northward as a warm front.
THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Thursday will be a warm February day for most of the state, with highs between 75 and 82 degrees. We expect a mix of sun and clouds with only a small risk of any one spot seeing a shower. Rain returns to the state after midnight Thursday night into Friday morning as a cold front moves through. There could be a rumble of thunder, but there is no risk of severe thunderstorms. The rain should be over by Friday afternoon; temperatures will hold in the 50s through the day.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Saturday will be a mostly cloudy, cool day with a few scattered showers possible over the northern half of the state. Rain is likely Saturday night into Sunday morning as a wave of low pressure rides along the front near the Gulf Coast. Drier air returns Sunday afternoon with some clearing possible; the high will be between 48 and 54 degrees Saturday, followed by mid 50s Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: The week looks dry with pleasant days and cool nights. Temperatures will rise to near 70 degrees by Thursday and Friday.
ON THIS DATE IN 1975: An F4 tornado tore through parts of Tuscaloosa, killing one person. It first touched down in the Taylorville community and then skipped northeastward before hitting the Skyland Park area and moving on to McFarland Boulevard near the intersection of I-59/20. It went on to affect parts of Alberta City and Holt. The official path length was 14.4 miles. Along it, 289 homes were destroyed or heavily damaged, along with 20 businesses and 21 mobile homes. The tornado nearly destroyed the new Scottish Inn motel on I-59 at McFarland. The fatality was a 23-year-old housekeeper named Thelma Hill, killed when most of the second floor of the motel was sheared away by the tornado, causing a wall to fall on her.
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