James Spann: Clearing in Alabama today; rain returns over the weekend
James Spann forecasts improving weather for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
RADAR CHECK: A weakening band of showers is pushing through southeast Alabama early this morning, and a few stray showers are over the northern and central counties. All of this will be ending soon, and we expect a clearing sky today with sunshine in full force this afternoon. The high today will be between 69 and 74 degrees for most communities. The weather will be dry Friday; with ample sunshine the high will be close to 80 degrees.
EASTER WEEKEND: A warm front will move into the state from the south and then become nearly stationary. This will bring wet weather back into the state over the weekend; we expect periods of rain Saturday and Sunday with highs in the 70s both days. It won’t rain all weekend, but if you have something planned outside be ready for off-and-on rain, along with a rumble of thunder at times.
The Storm Prediction Center has defined a low-end, marginal risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of west and south Alabama Saturday, areas south of a line from Aliceville to Montgomery to Abbeville. A few storms in that part of the state could produce strong, gusty winds.
NEXT WEEK: A few lingering showers are possible Monday, but most places will be dry Tuesday and Wednesday. A cold front will bring showers into the state Wednesday night into Thursday; for now, severe storms are not expected.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: For the Alabama A Day game in Tuscaloosa Saturday (2 p.m. kickoff), the sky will be cloudy with periods of rain likely. Temperatures will be between 70 and 74 degrees.
The Birmingham Stallions will host the New Jersey Generals Saturday evening at Protective Stadium (6:30 kickoff). Expect a cloudy sky with occasional showers; temperatures will fall from near 72 at kickoff into the upper 60s by the final whistle.
LAST NIGHT’S STORMS: Significant wind damage was reported last night in the Branch Heights section of Eutaw (Greene County) and in the Flatwoods neighborhood of Northport; National Weather Service survey teams will be there today to determine whether the damage was caused by straight-line winds or a brief tornado.
ON THIS DATE IN 1886: The deadliest tornado in Minnesota history razed parts of St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids, leaving 72 dead and 213 injured. Eleven members of a wedding party were killed, including the bride and groom. The bottom of the Mississippi River was seen during the tornado’s crossing.
ON THIS DATE IN 1935: Black Sunday refers to a particularly severe dust storm that occurred as part of the Dust Bowl. During the afternoon, the residents of the Plains States were forced to take cover as a “black blizzard” blew through the region. The storm hit the Oklahoma Panhandle and northwestern Oklahoma first and moved south for the remainder of the day.
ON THIS DATE IN 2019: A total of 11 tornadoes touched down across Alabama on Palm Sunday; they were all short lived and rated either EF-0 or EF-1.
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