Dry October Weather Continues
DROUGHT TO WORSEN THIS WEEK: While a number of communities in North and West Alabama did receive rain last Thursday night, the official reporting site in Birmingham (Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport) didn’t receive anything, and the total for the month of October so far is only a trace. Here is a look at the number of consecutive days with no measurable rain for some places across Alabama (counting today, which will be dry)…
Tuscaloosa 37 (last measurable rain was September 17 with 0.33″)
Birmingham 36 (last measurable rain was September 18 with 0.32″)
Anniston 28 (last measurable rain was September 26 with 0.01″)
Huntsville 4 (last measurable rain was October 20 with 0.77″)
DON’T BURN: There is a no burn order for North and Central Alabama… this includes YOU. Way too many people with fire pits and campfires doing this weekend. There are no exceptions. And, conserve water. Droughts are serious business.
The shot below is Lake Purdy yesterday (photo from @hms2010)
TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY: Cool mornings, warm afternoons. With no soil moisture, temperatures will climb quickly, and we will see a high at or just over 80 degrees through Wednesday. We are in the 40s this morning, and lows should be in the 50s early tomorrow and Wednesday. Sunny days, clear nights.
THURSDAY: A wave will pass through the state, bringing scattered clouds, but no real hope for meaningful rain. We will mention a small risk of a shower, but don’t get your hopes up. The high will be in the mid to upper 70s.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Still dry. Sunny days, clear nights, and a cooling trend over the weekend. The GFS is printing a high of 77 for Birmingham Saturday, followed by 71 Sunday.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: A clear sky for the high school games Friday night with temperatures falling through the 60s.
Auburn is on the road this weekend; they play at Ole Miss in Oxford (6:15p CT kickoff)… the sky will be clear with temperatures falling from near 70 at kickoff into the low 60s by the fourth quarter.
Alabama has the weekend off.
NEXT WEEK: Still no sign of rain for at least the first half of the week; Halloween will be dry with a pleasant evening for trick or treaters Monday.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER: The weather in typically becomes more active during these two months; it is our late fall severe weather season in Alabama. We don’t need the severe weather, but we sure need the rain.
AT THE BEACH: Sunny days, clear nights through the weekend. Highs around 80, lows in the 60s. See a very detailed Gulf Coast forecast here.
TROPICS: The Atlantic basin is quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected this week. It has now been 11 yrs since last major hurricane made U.S. landfall (Wilma-2005) – longest U.S. major hurricane landfall drought on record.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. We will produce this week’s show tonight at 8:30 CT… you can watch it live here.
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Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 4:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
Category: Alabama's Weather
About the Author (Author Profile)
James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.Subscribe
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