Published On: 02.26.24 | 

By: James Spann

James Spann: Warmest weather so far this year in Alabama Monday, Tuesday

James Spann forecasts unseasonably warm weather for Alabama the next two days from Alabama News Center on Vimeo.

SPRING PREVIEW: Dry weather continues across Alabama today with temperatures in the 70s this afternoon. The average high for Birmingham on Feb. 26 is 62. Clouds will increase tonight, and a few scattered showers are possible Tuesday morning over the northern third of the state. Some sun is possible Tuesday afternoon, and we project highs between 75 and 82 degrees. It will be the warmest day so far this year.

WEDNESDAY: A cold front will push into Alabama, bringing a band of showers and possibly a thunderstorm or two; there is no risk of severe storms. There will be a sharp thermal contrast across the state due to the front; temperatures will settle into the 40s over the northern third of the state, while south Alabama will see highs in the 70s. For some places across the central counties, temperatures will rise to near 70 by midday, but then they fall through the 60s and 50s during the afternoon.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Thursday will be cool and dry, with highs in the 50s over north Alabama and 60s to the south. A wave of low pressure will bring rain back to the state on Friday. It will be a cool rain, with temperatures in the 50s.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A pool of moisture will stay in place. The sky will be mostly cloudy, and scattered showers are possible both days. It won’t be too heavy or widespread, and the weather turns warmer again, with highs mostly in the upper 60s Saturday, followed by low 70s Sunday.

NEXT WEEK: A few scattered showers remain possible Monday. Showers and storms are more likely late Monday night into Tuesday ahead of another cold front. A few strong storms will be possible, but for now the risk of severe storms looks low with the best dynamic forcing to the north. Drier air returns Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the 60s.

ON THIS DATE IN 1972: The Buffalo Creek disaster occurred in the Buffalo Creek Hollow of Logan County in West Virginia. A coal slag dam on the middle fork of Buffalo Creek burst and sent a 50-foot wall of water down a narrow valley, killing 125 people and causing $51 million in damage. Three days of rain atop a 6-inch snow cover caused the dam to break.

ON THIS DATE IN 2008: A derecho moved through parts of central Alabama before dawn. Although there were some sporadic reports of light tree damage and small hail west of Interstate 65, a more intense and widespread swath of damage started in southern Jefferson and northern Shelby counties between 3:30 and 4 a.m. From there, the damage swath moved eastward, roughly parallel to Interstate 20, reaching the Georgia border by 5 a.m. Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 to 70 mph were widespread in this damage swath, with occasional hurricane-force peak wind gusts, estimated just over 100 mph in some areas.

EF-1 tornadoes touched down at Highland Lakes in northern Shelby County and at Leeds and Pell City.

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