James Spann: Alabama stays dry through the weekend
DRY DAYS: Dry weather is forecast for all of Alabama through early next week, with below-average temperatures. With a partly sunny sky Friday, we expect a high between 62 and 65 degrees. Saturday and Sunday will feature a sunny sky with highs staying in the low to mid 60s. Mornings will be chilly; the low Saturday morning will be between 36 and 42 degrees, and most communities across north and central Alabama will drop into the 30s early Sunday morning with frost likely. Colder spots will be at or just below freeing at daybreak Sunday; growers, beware.
NEXT WEEK: The weather turns warmer. We rise into the 70s Monday, and low 80s Tuesday and Wednesday. A dynamic storm system will bring rain and storms back into Alabama Wednesday night into Thursday morning; strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible, but it is still too early to know the magnitude or coverage of the event. We will have much better clarity by Sunday and Monday.
EARLY APRIL: The latest Climate Prediction Center outlook for early April shows lots of blue around here, meaning temperatures are expected to be below average. We almost always have a late-season freeze or frost in early April; always wait until April 15 to plant anything that might be harmed by frost or freezing temperatures.
RAIN UPDATE: Here are rain totals so far this year, and the departure from average:
- Huntsville — 21.79 inches (7.67 inches above average)
- Birmingham — 20.51 inches (6.23 above average)
- Muscle Shoals — 19.47 inches (6.14 above average)
- Tuscaloosa — 17.87 inches (3.85 above average)
- Anniston — 17 inches (2.97 above average)
- Montgomery — 13.57 inches (0.06 above average)
- Dothan — 11.03 inches (1.89 below average)
- Mobile — 10.69 inches (3.5 below average)
ON THIS DATE IN 1929: St. Louis soared to 92 degrees, its all-time record high for March.
ON THIS DATE IN 1975: “The Governor’s Tornado” hop-scotched a 13-mile path across the western part of Atlanta during the early morning, causing considerable damage to the governor’s mansion off West Paces Ferry Road. Hundreds of expensive homes, businesses and apartment complexes were damaged. Total losses were estimated at $56 million. Three people lost their lives, and the F3 tornado injured an additional 152. The tornado was down for approximately 50 miles and ended in the Brookhaven area.
BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.
WEATHER BRAINS: You can listen to our weekly 90-minute show any time on your favorite podcast app. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including the meteorologists at ABC 33/40.
CONNECT: You can find me on the major social networks:
For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.
