Cold Air Settles Into Alabama

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CHILLY WINTER DAY: As expected, clouds are very stubborn to leave across the great state of Alabama this afternoon. Temperatures are mostly in the 40s, but a number of communities north of Birmingham are not out of the 30s. This is air coming down across the vast snow pack north of our state, and we will stay cold tonight and tomorrow. The NAM and GFS are printing a low of 27 degrees early tomorrow as the clouds stick around and cold air drains in from the north.

SOME LIGHT RAIN TOMORROW??? All of a sudden models are picking up an impulse that will move across the Deep South tomorrow in the southern stream, and the 18Z run of the NAM brings rain into the state by midday.

Other models, including the high resolution RPM, are not as aggressive, but considering the pattern, I think some mention of light rain is a good idea for tomorrow, especially from U.S. 278 (Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden) south. Thermal fields suggest mostly rain, with only a small risk of a snow flake or two in the mix… or perhaps a little sleet.

NWS BIRMINGHAM: Our friends at the National Weather Service office in Birmingham are hinting at a few snow flakes or sleet patches tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow evening over Central Alabama, mainly south of Birmingham, but this is only a very small risk at this point.

After last week’s situation, I can certainly understand forecast anxiety on the part of weather professionals and the public, but I honestly don’t see much support for any snow for now… it should be mostly rain with temperatures above freezing. A little sleet is not out of the question on the northern periphery of the precipitation.

I am not sure we can get out of the 30s tomorrow with clouds and some risk of that light rain. It will be a raw, cold, and damp day.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Friday should be brighter and warmer. The high will be in the 47 to 50 degree range with a mix of sun and clouds. Then, for the weekend, global models continue to show a wave on the Arctic front well to the south of here in the Central Gulf of Mexico, far enough to the south to really have no major impact on Alabama. The upper trough might squeeze out a shower somewhere Saturday, but I still get the idea most places will be dry Saturday; the sky will be mostly cloudy with a high in the 50s. Sunday looks rain-free, but breezy and colder with a high in the upper 40s with a partly sunny sky.

NEXT WEEK: The next wave in the southern stream promises to bring rain back into Alabama by Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday night, and Wednesday morning. Thermal fields suggest all rain, but no instability means no severe weather and probably no thunder. Just rain. Drier air returns Thursday and Friday.

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STORM ALERT 2014: Our annual severe weather awareness tour across Alabama kicks off tomorrow evening; we will be at Gadsden City High School at 6:30 (doors open at 5:00). You will get an introduction to storm spotting, see the “good, the bad, and the ugly” concerning last week’s snow, learn how to stay safe this tornado season, and have a chance to win some cool stuff. If you have kids that love weather, bring them. They will love it. Hope to see you tomorrow evening in Gadsden.

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I really enjoyed seeing patients and families today at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, and also the third graders at Vance Elementary School in Tuscaloosa County; be looking for those kids 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…

Tags: cold

Category: Alabama's Weather