Cold Air Returns Early Next Week

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THIS AFTERNOON: Under a mostly cloudy sky, there a few patches of scattered light rain across Alabama, but many places are dry. Temperatures remain mild, with most communities in the mid to upper 60s. To the south, Montgomery has soared into the upper 70s again today with some sun at times through the clouds. The light rain will end this evening as the upper low to the south moves on to the east.

TOMORROW THROUGH SATURDAY: These three days will be very mild, and mostly dry. The air will be rather moist, meaning cloudy periods, but the chance of a shower for any one given location is very small since there is no real trigger for rain. Afternoon highs will be around 70 tomorrow, but will back down a bit Friday due to cold air damming, or cold air draining into the state from the east. I figure highs near the Georgia border will be in the upper 50s Friday, but to the west low 70s are likely over the western counties of the state. Then, on Saturday, everybody should enjoy a high near 70. The chance of any one spot getting wet on these three days is only in the 10 to 20 percent range, and barely worth mentioning in the forecast.

STRONG COLD FRONT EARLY MONDAY: A dynamic weather system will bring the chance of strong storms to Alabama late Sunday night and early Monday. We figure the main window for showers and storms will come from about 12:00 midnight Sunday through 9:00 a.m. Monday. While the tornado threat looks rather low, the long squall line will have the potential to bring strong winds, maybe even damaging winds in spots. Instability values will be somewhat limited thanks to the early morning arrival, so hopefully that will keep things in check. And, the fact that the storms will be linear, and not cellular, should keep the tornado threat small. Rain amounts of 1/2 to 1 inch are likely.

COLD AIR COMES BACK: I get the idea our high Monday will be reached early in the morning. I expect temperatures to fall Monday, and there is a good chance we reach the 40s by mid to late afternoon with an icy north wind. Then, as the sky clears Monday night, we should drop well below freezing by daybreak Tuesday with most places winding up in the 20s.

We will keep an eye on a disturbance riding along the Gulf Coast; some GFS runs have suggested that might bring beneficial rain to the state by Wednesday night or Thursday, but the 12Z run is weaker, farther south, and shows little rain up this way. One way or another temperatures will moderate a bit, and there won’t be any winter weather issues with that feature if it does become a factor.

THE LAND OF VOODOO: Still strong evidence of a pattern change which will open the door for much colder weather over the latter half of December. Of course, in Alabama, it never “stays cold”, but I get the idea temperatures here will be below average as we celebrate Christmas, and maybe the New Year. See the Weather Xtreme video for the graphics and details.

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I had a great time today seeing the kids at Duck Springs Elementary School, and Glencoe Middle School in Etowah County… they will be on the Pepsi KIDCAM tomorrow evening on ABC 33/40 News. Tonight I will be live at Applebees on Highway 150 in Hoover as we get our Toys for Tots campaign in high gear… come see us if you have time and bring a new, unwrapped toy. The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…

Tags: mild

Category: Alabama's Weather