Alabama 811 | Know What's Below.

Big Warm-Up Ahead For The Weekend

| March 14, 2013 @ 3:35 pm

**No afternoon Weather Xtreme video today due to travel; we are at the Publix in Oxford today programming NOAA Weather Radio receivers**

This afternoon’s discussion is from the great American weather legend, J.B. Elliott….

ANOTHER DAY WHEN YOU CAN SEE FOREVER! Well, not quite. The air is clear as a bell with a real sparkle. Another day that if I could climb the highest TV tower on Red Mountain, I could easily see Mt. Cheaha in East Alabama, the state’s highest elevation. However, halfway up the TV tower I most surely would lose my grip and I would be no more.

BACK TO REALITY: It was another cold early morning in our state—below freezing in some areas. Examples: 24 Black Creek, NE of Gadsden, 26 Fayette, 27 Haleyville and Russellville, 29 Center Point and Lake View (the latter in Tuscaloosa County) 30 in Dothan, 30 Birmingham Airport and 32 in Trussville. Will not be near that cold tonight—in fact, we do not expect any temperatures that low for the next seven nights. How about that!

A QUICK WEATHER MAP DISCUSSION: (My favorite discussion of the day.) A very large high-pressure area stopped and spent the night last night squarely over Alabama and several other southeast states. Of course, the wind went to sleep also and the wind went calm and that’s why we had some nice cold temperatures. That high is actually a part of a huge ridge of high pressure extending from the Yukon Territory to the Southeast U.S. It has been stationary for a couple of days. Most of the time we fear that the bitter cold arctic air in that high will crank up and move southeast and give us a big headache. We don’t think so this time. The air is not quite as cold as it was. By tomorrow morning, the southeast high will drift down over the Gulf of Mexico and a milder west wind will set up across Alabama. We can’t do forever without another cold front. By next Monday a new one will be pushing into the southeast and down into North Florida next Tuesday. That will bring us some more winter-like temperatures.

USA NOTES: The warmest (make that hottest) temperature in the USA yesterday was 97 at Thermal and Ocotillo Wells, California. Mind you, that is almost 100-degree heat. Cold spots this morning included 9 below zero at Land O Lakes, Wisconsin and 33 below at Eagle, Alaska. There is still 50 inches of snow on the ground at Valdez.

AT THE BEACH: Sunny days, fair nights through Sunday. Highs along the immediate coast will be in the 60s, but 70s are likely inland. The sea water temperatures remain around 60 degrees. I still suggest the hotel pool…

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…

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Again, if you need some help with your weather radio and live in the Anniston/Oxford area, come see us at the Publix. Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…

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Category: Alabama's Weather

About the Author ()

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.

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