Much Colder Air Arrives Saturday
**No afternoon Weather Xtreme video today… am at the BJCC for live weather at the Birmingham Home and Garden Show on ABC 33/40 at 4, 5, and 6:00**
Thanks to Bill Murray for this afternoon’s discussion…..
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Fog greeted this Valentine’s Day across much of Northwest, West and Central Alabama. It was fun to watch the satellite image this morning, as skies that had cleared last evening filled in overnight with low clouds, only to erode before sunrise over northwestern and western sections. An you watched the skies clear on the satellite animation, you could see fog symbols popping up like mushrooms! You didn’t need a weather map to tell you it was foggy in places like Tuscaloosa, and over in Pickens County. It was a thick as pea soup! Visibilities dropped to less than ¼ mile and it was kind of an eerie sight early this morning. There was even some freezing fog, as temperatures were just below freezing, but no problems were reported.
ROLLERCOASTER OF WEATHER: Do you remember the excellent 1975 disco song, Love Rollercoaster, by the Ohio Players? Well the next two weeks with be a Weather Rollercoaster across Central Alabama with some cold weather this weekend, followed by a active pattern of wet weather systems as we continue to try to erase the drought.
SUNSHINE: That bright yellow orb out there today is the sun. At least for people north of I-65/I-85. South of there, clouds were still thick in places like Mobile, Evergreen, Opp and Florala at late morning. But for Central Alabama, sunshine, with just a few tiny clouds are ruling the day and allowing the mercury to warm into the upper 50s. Tonight will not be as cold as last night, with lows in the middle to upper 30s.
FRIDAY/SATURDAY SYSTEM: Things get a little interesting over the weekend, but the main story will be the cold. The disturbances in the northwesterly flow over western Canada are lined up like planes trying to land at ATL. Each one of those disturbances into and over the weekend will carve out a little more trough over the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, allowing for some cold air to come south. Twin disturbances Friday and Saturday will cause Increasing clouds by tomorrow afternoon here in Alabama. There could even be a few sprinkles over the Tennessee Valley down into tomorrow afternoon with the first disturbances. The second disturbance will produce a few more sprinkles changing over to light snow flurries into early Saturday morning. There won’t be any accumulation. It will feel much colder by Saturday morning, with readings in the middle and upper 20s. Highs on Saturday will struggle to get out of the 30s despite a partly sunny sky. A few southern spots may make the lower 40s, but don’t be surprised to see several 30s on the board for highs. Some of the coldest air so far this season will push lows into the middle and even lower 20s by Sunday morning.
SUNDAY WARMUP: After that chilly start Sunday morning, we will be back in the 50s by afternoon.
NEXT SYSTEM: The Gulf will be open for business by Monday morning, with increasing southerly winds ahead of our next system. Clouds will increase during the day and there could even be a shower during the afternoon. Rain will become likely late Monday night into Tuesday morning. There will be a few thunderstorms involved as well, but we don’t expect any severe weather.
BRIEF BREAK WEDNESDAY: No real intrusion of cold air behind the first system, so expect seasonal temperatures on Wednesday in the 60F degree neighborhood with lots of sunshine. So it looks like a beautiful day, but by Thursday, the Gulf will open its little lemonade stand again and sell us some increasing moisture. Expect clouds to increase and there will be another round of rain and storms Thursday night into Friday morning.
SATURDAY BREAK: Like Wednesday, expect a short lived break on Saturday, with sunshine followed by more rain on Sunday. That will be followed by more wet weather probably on the 26th and the 1st of March.
STORM ALERT 2013: Our annual severe weather awareness tour across Alabama continues through February. We will share lessons learned after the April 27, 2011 generational tornado event, along with other amazing weather stories. Learn how to keep your family safe during severe weather, and have a chance to win some cool prizes as well. Here are the remaining Storm Alert tour dates…
February 21 Clanton – Jeff State Performing Arts Center
February 26 Ohatchee – Ohatchee High School
February 28 Clay – Clay/Chalkville High School
All shows begin at 6:30… be sure and get there early to get a good seat.
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.
CONNECT: You can find me on all of the major social networks…
I had a great time today visiting with the third graders at Oak Grove Elementary… be looking for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News! The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…
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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