Drought Conditions Continue to Intensify
RADAR CHECK: Just a few sprinkles over far Northeast Alabama this afternoon; the rest of the state is dry, and the low levels are very dry with dewpoints only in the 30s and 40s. You just can’t get any rain out of an airmass like this, even with an upper trough approaching. The sky is mostly cloudy with temperatures around 70 degrees.
RECORD WATCH: For Birmingham, today is the 51st consecutive day without measurable rain; we will tie the record of 52 consecutive day days (set in 1924) tomorrow, and break that record Thursday as drought conditions continue to intensify.
A drought emergency remains in effect for all 67 Alabama counties. No outdoor burning… it is illegal for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands or marshes; to build a campfire or bonfire; or to burn trash or other material that may cause a forest, grass or woods fire. Specifically, the regulation prohibits any prescribed burns, any campfire or bonfire, any trash or debris fires, or any other open burning. If convicted, the penalty for violating the No Burn order is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.00.
REST OF THE WEEK: Sunny pleasant days, clear chilly nights. Highs around 70 degrees… lows down into the low 40s early Thursday and Friday morning, with 30s for colder spots.
THE WEEKEND: No change, no rain. Sunny cool days, clear cold nights. Highs drop into the 60s, and temperatures by early Sunday will be well down in the 30s. A freeze very possible for colder places across North/Central Alabama.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: For the high school playoff games Friday, a clear sky with temperatures falling from 60 at kickoff into the 40s by the second half.
Alabama hosts Mississippi State Saturday (11:00a CT kickoff); the sky will be sunny with temperatures rising from near 59 at kickoff, to 65 by the fourth quarter.
Auburn travels to Athens, GA to take on the Georgia Bulldogs (2:30p CT kickoff)… a perfect day for football. About 65 degrees at kickoff, dropping back into the upper 50s by the final whistle.
NEXT WEEK: The first half of the week will be dry, but the long awaited upper air pattern change begins, opening the door for the return of rain to our parched state. Both the American and European global models show a dynamic mid-latitude storm system late next week, poised to bring showers/storms to Alabama in the November 19-20 time frame.
That system will need to be monitored for severe thunderstorm potential; remember this is the late fall severe weather season in Alabama.
And, European ensemble output suggests potential for over six inches of rain from November 19-December 25…
All droughts do end… it just takes time and patience.
AT THE BEACH: Cloudy periods tomorrow with a chance of showers from Gulf Shores to Panama City Beach, then sunny days and fair nights Thursday through the weekend; highs in the 70s. See a very detailed Gulf Coast forecast here.
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.
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I enjoyed speaking to the Middle Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents in Hendersonville, TN this morning… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…
Category: Alabama's Weather
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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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