DRIER DAY: Sunshine has returned to part of Alabama today as a dry slot of air worked into the state, but more clouds have moved into the northern third of the state this afternoon thanks to a passing upper trough. Temperatures are in the 40s where clouds persist over North Alabama, but the rest of the state has warmed into the mid to upper 50s. Tonight will be fair and cold with a low in the low to mid 30s.
RADAR CHECK: We have a few lingering showers over the eastern half of the state early this morning; most of those should be gone by the time you read this. The sky becomes partly sunny as a slot of dry air punches into the state. We will mention a chance of isolated showers this afternoon over North Alabama as an upper trough passes overhead, but the moisture will be very limited, and most places will be dry. The high today will be in the mid to upper 50s; the average high for January 24 at Birmingham is 54.
RADAR CHECK: As advertised, rain covers much of Alabama this afternoon. It is a cold rain with temperatures generally in the 40s over the northern half of the state; we are seeing 50s over South Alabama. Occasional rain will continue tonight; the rain will end from west to east early tomorrow morning.
PERIODS OF RAIN: Wet weather returns to Alabama today; look for periods of rain through tonight. Temperatures will hold in the 40s all day over the northern half of the state, so the air will be cold and stable and there is no risk of severe thunderstorms. Rain amounts will be around one inch over the next 24 hours.
CLOUDS MOVING IN: Clouds have been increasing across Alabama today ahead of a weather system west of the state; temperatures are mostly in the 40s over North Alabama, with 50s to the south. Clouds will continue to thicken tonight, and some rain could reach West Alabama by tomorrow morning.
The good news is that a warming trend begins this afternoon; temperatures will rise into the low 50s this afternoon with a partly sunny sky. Clouds will move into the state tonight ahead of the next system to the west.
CLOUDLESS SKY: All 67 Alabama counties are completely cloud-free this afternoon as a cold, dry airmass stays in place. Temperatures are only in the mid 30s over North Alabama, with low 40s to the south. These values are about 20 degrees below average for late January in Alabama. Tonight will be clear and very cold; most places will see a low between 20 and 25, but teens are likely for the colder spots.
FRIGID AIR: Temperatures are generally between 20 and 25 degrees over the northern half of Alabama; they have been holding steady through the night thanks to a deck of mid level clouds that moved in. Our Skywatcher at Black Creek (near Gadsden), Vic Bell, did drop to 16 degrees at midnight last night before the clouds moved in. We have freezing temperatures all the way down to the Gulf Coast; Mobile reports 28 degrees just before daybreak. As expected, we have received a few reports of light snow flurries over North Alabama early this morning, but there is no impact.
COLD JANUARY DAY: Clouds are lingering over far North Alabama this afternoon, where temperatures remain below freezing. At 2pm CT, Decatur reported 26 degrees, a north wind at 12 mph, and a wind chill index of 16. Even where the sun is shining, temperatures haven’t responded much. Birmingham was at 35 degrees at 2:00… the average high for Birmingham on January 20 is 54.
Today will be sunny but cold; areas north of Birmingham hold in the 30s all day; Central Alabama will see low to mid 40s, with low 50s over the far southern counties of of the state. Tonight will feature a freeze statewide; lows over North/Central Alabama will be mostly in the 20-25 degree range, with a few upper teens for colder spots.
A cold front will bring showers through the area today, but Old Man Winter makes a return starting tomorrow to remind us that it is still early in the Winter season.
NICE WINTER DAY: The sky is mostly sunny across a decent part of Alabama this afternoon; brighter than forecast this morning. Accordingly, temperatures are warmer than forecast. Most places are in the mid 60s; a few spots over West Alabama are close to 70. Clouds will return tonight ahead of a storm system to the west.
CLOUDY DAY: Clouds will hang tough over Alabama today, and we note some patchy light rain over the northern half of the state at daybreak. While most of the day will be dry, a bit of light rain is possible in scattered spots; temperatures will hold in the 50s. The average high for Birmingham on January 17 is 54.
James Spann
@spann
