Much Colder Tonight; A Few Flurries This Evening
COLD FRONT: Today will be a mostly cloudy day across Alabama as a cold front passes through the state. Once the front passes this afternoon, north winds of 12-22 mph will bring in some of the coldest air we have experienced so far this season. Temperatures won’t get out of the 40s this afternoon, and with a deep upper trough with very cold air aloft overhead a few snow flurries or snow showers are possible across Northeast Alabama, despite a dry airmass.
The best chance of seeing a few snow flakes is north and east of Birmingham; no accumulation or impact is expected with temperatures generally in the mid to upper 30s and a gusty north wind. The big story is the cold air; with a clearing sky temperatures will drop into the 17-24 degree range over the northern half of the state early tomorrow, with a wind chill index between 8 and 18 degrees. Tomorrow will be a sunny day with a high in the 37-42 degree range.
Then, on Sunday, after a low in the 20s temperatures will rise into the 50s by afternoon with a sunny sky.
NEXT WEEK: The weather will be dry and pleasant Monday and Tuesday with highs at or just over 60 degrees. Rain returns to the state Wednesday as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico surges northward. Then, a cold front will roll through the state Thursday with more rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Global models are in better agreement, and for now the risk of severe storms looks low. In fact, we might see a few snow flakes on the back side of the departing system Thursday night. Friday will be cold and dry… See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.
ON THIS DATE IN 2014: Snow amounts of 2-4 inches were forecast across the southern half of Alabama, where a winter storm warning was in effect. Some snow was in the forecast for places like Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Anniston, and Gadsden, but nothing more than a “dusting” with no travel impact.
It was a forecast that we wish we could take back. Instead of a dusting, amounts of 1-2 inches were common across the I-20/59 corridor. Much of the snow melted initially due to warm soil, but the air temperatures were in the 17-20 degree range as the snow fell, and the snow melt quickly turned into ice. A flash freeze event; something rarely seen in Alabama. Roads were soon ice covered, and as people left work early to get home, gridlock followed, and a nightmare now known as “snowmageddon”. Alabama State Troopers responded to 731 vehicle accidents across the state during the period Tuesday through Friday (Jan 28th-31st). Sadly, there were nine deaths attributed to accidents that occurred due to the icy road conditions. Some people were stranded on highways for over 10 hours; many took shelter in stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
In schools, teachers spent the night with, and looked after, their students whose parents were not able to pick them up and take them home. On those ice covered highways, drivers got out of their cars to give other cars a nudge up the hill, and Good Samaritans came to the rescue in their four-wheelers. Some restaurant workers brought food and hot coffee to stranded motorists. One neurosurgeon, Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw, was at Brookwood Medical Center when he was needed for emergency brain surgery at Trinity Medical Center on Montclair Road. He would walk six miles to save the patient’s life.
It was the second worst forecast bust in my career, topped only by the January 1982 ice storm, which started 8 hours before the forecast time and brought catastrophic impact to the state.
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Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos
About the Author (Author Profile)
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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