QUIET PATTERN: Alabama’s weather won’t change much through the weekend; generally dry weather continues with cool days and chilly nights. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s, lows between 25 and 32 degrees for most communities. There could be a sprinkle along the Gulf Coast Saturday thanks to a disturbance in the southern branch of the jet stream, but even there most places will stay dry.

NEXT WEEK: A wave will have potential to bring some light rain to the state Monday night and Tuesday, with the best coverage over the southern counties. Wednesday will be dry with a mix of sun and clouds. Expect highs between 49 and 54 degrees during the first half of the week.

An Arctic front will bring potential for a little light rain to north Alabama Thursday afternoon, and as cold air rushes into the state, some light snow or a few snow flurries are possible Thursday night. But, for now, this doesn’t look like a setup for any accumulating snow. The big story is the coldest air so far this season that will rush into the state Friday.

ARCTIC BLAST: Here are few notes on the Christmas cold wave:

• Temperatures will likely remain below freezing across north Alabama all day Friday and Saturday, Dec. 23-24. Temperatures should rise into the mid to upper 30s by Christmas. But some places could remain below freezing for 72 consecutive hours.
• Early-morning lows will be mostly in the teens Friday and Saturday mornings, but colder spots over north Alabama could dip into the single digits.
• The wind chill index Friday, Dec. 23, will be below zero at times over north Alabama thanks to a brisk north wind.
• Now both major global models are showing cold, dry weather on Christmas Day across Alabama.

ON THIS DATE IN 2000: An F4 tornado tore through southern Tuscaloosa, killing 11 people and injuring more than 100. Nine of the fatalities occurred in mobile homes, one in a vehicle and one in a commercial building converted to residential use. Ages of those killed ranged from 16 months to 83 years old. The tornado was on the ground for a total of 18 miles, all within Tuscaloosa County. The tornado path was estimated to be 750 yards wide at its maximum intensity.

There was an excellent warning for the tornado; a warning was issued at 12:40 p.m. on that deadly Saturday, 14 minutes before the twister first touched down in a rural area southwest of Tuscaloosa near the Black Warrior River. The tornado crossed Alabama 69 near Shelton State Community College and Hillcrest High School, destroying a shopping center and many homes. The Bear Creek Trailer Park was hit, where many of the deaths occurred. The tornado moved to the east/northeast, south of Skyland Boulevard, and finally crossed I-59/20 near the Cottondale exit.

Later in the day, the same parent storm dropped an F3 tornado that struck the Coats Bend region of Etowah County, near Gadsden, damaging 250 homes and injuring 14 people. Like the Tuscaloosa tornado, excellent warnings were issued by the National Weather Service long before the damage occurred. Just another reminder we can have some very violent weather this time of the year.

BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.