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Another Late Season Freeze Ahead

| March 21, 2018 @ 5:52 am

WINDY/COOL DAY AHEAD: Temperatures are in the mid 30s across most of North/Central Alabama early this morning, although a few spots have dropped to freezing. Just before daybreak Cullman reports 32 degrees. We have a northwest wind of 6-12 mph, and accordingly no frost issues. Today will be sunny and cool with a strong northwest wind averaging 15-25 mph.

ANOTHER LATE SEASON FREEZE: A freeze warning is in effect tonight for areas north of a line from Winfield to Jasper to Columbiana to Sylacauga to Roanoke… with a frost advisory south of there down into the southern counties of the state.

For most places the low early tomorrow will be in the 28-33 degree range, and frost is likely with a clear sky and calm wind. Then, during the day tomorrow be sunny with a high close to 60 degrees.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Friday will be dry with a good supply of sunshine; the high will be in the mid 60s. Temperatures warm into the 70s over the weekend… for now it looks like most of the day Saturday will be dry, but clouds will increase late in the day and a few showers are possible Saturday night and Sunday as a surface boundary drifts southward. For now it looks like moisture will be pretty limited, and rain amounts will be light and spotty. The southern third of Alabama will most likely remain dry.

NEXT WEEK: Showers remain possible Monday as the boundary lifts northward and begins to dissipate; the day will be mostly cloudy and cooler with a high in the 60s. Then, most of mid-week looks dry with highs in the 70s. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.

ON THIS DATE IN 1932: A generational tornado outbreak across the Deep South; official Weather Bureau tabulations said that 268 persons were killed in Alabama with 1874 injured. But the truth is that we really don’t know how many died due to sparse records; most likely the death toll was much higher.

It was around 3:30 in the afternoon on that fateful Monday when the first black funnels came pounding to the ground in the Demopolis, Linden, Faunsdale areas of West/Central Alabama. Death came to 36 persons in Marengo County, 136 were injured and 180 homes were destroyed. Then came the disaster at Tuscaloosa and Northport. A clock at the demolished Tuscaloosa Country Club stopped at 4:01 p.m. 30 minutes after the first strikes near Demopolis.

After striking the western end of Tuscaloosa, the death-dealing tornado plowed across the Warrior River into Northport. Witnesses said it was shaped like an ice cream cone and it was so filled with airborne debris that it had an eerie white glow resembling a whirling heavy snow shower moving in on the city.But it was not snow. 38 persons died in Northport and 250 were injured. Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa was quickly filled to capacity. The University of Alabama gymnasium was pressed into service as an emergency additional hospital.

Only one hour later, still more disaster. A path of destruction 20 miles long was cut across Cullman County. It left 23 dead and 300 injured. The Fairview community was hardest hit.

The tragic day continued to unfold. Tornadoes struck in Alabama from 3:30 in the afternoon to at least 7:00 in the evening. A broad area received severe damage generally from Demopolis on the SW to Scottsboro, Stevenson and Paint Rock in NE Alabama and also eastward to Chilton, Coosa and Clay Counties.

Chilton County in Central Alabama was hit extremely hard with 58 persons killed. The Union Grove community near Jemison was laid to waste. Doctors and nurses from Montgomery and Birmingham worked all night by lantern and flashlight to relieve the widespead suffering. In Clay County, one of the tornadoes remained on the ground for 30 miles cutting a path 400 yards wide. A new automobile became airborne and was carried through the air for a distance of 400 yards. 12 persons died in Clay County and 200 were injured. After the tornado, there were people living in the Clay County Courthouse.

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I have a weather program this morning for the pre-school program at Vestavia United Methodist Church… look fo the next Weather Xtreme video here by 4:00 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!

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Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos

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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