Dry Weather Continues Through The Weekend
SUNNY OCTOBER AFTERNOON: Temperatures are in the 77-83 degree range across Alabama this afternoon with a mostly sunny sky. Tonight will be mostly fair with lows generally in the 50s.
The weather will stay dry through the weekend with mostly sunny warm afternoons and fair pleasant nights. Highs will be mostly in the low 80s, which is about ten degrees above average for the end of October.
FIRE ALERT: From the Alabama Forestry Commission “Effective immediately, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has re-issued a Fire Alert for all 67 counties in the state. In the 32 northern counties (roughly north of Interstate 20), no burn permits will be issued. In the 35 southern counties (south of Interstate 20), certified prescribed burn managers will have the option to obtain a one-day burn permit. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Anyone who burns a field, grassland, or woodland without a burn permit may be subject to prosecution for committing a Class B misdemeanor.
During the past seven days, AFC wildland firefighters have responded to 111 wildfires that scorched more than 1,881 acres of forestland in Alabama. Drought conditions are expected to worsen as no rain is forecast for the next week, and October is historically the state’s driest month. This extremely dry weather creates a greater-than-average potential for outdoor fires to escape easily and spread rapidly, taking longer – and more firefighting resources – to contain and ultimately control.
NEXT WEEK: A cold front will bring a chance of some light rain and colder air into the Deep South. Some rain is possible at times over the latter half of the week as the front stalls out near the coast, but it looks like amounts will be light (generally under one-half inch). Highs drop into the 50s and 60s through mid-week, with lows in the 40s. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: Tammy remains a hurricane this afternoon with 75 mph winds. It is about 580 miles south/southeast of Bermuda, and is moving to the northeast at 8 mph. Tammy is expected to become post-tropical Thursday, and the latest NHC track has the circulation center near Bermuda over the weekend.
Short lived Tropical Depression 21 has dissipated inland over Central America. The rest of the Atlantic basin is quiet.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: The sky will be clear for the high school games across Alabama Friday night with temperatures falling from the mid 70s at kickoff into the upper 60s by the quarter.
For Saturday’s Magic City Classic in Birmingham (Alabama State vs Alabama A&M, 2:30p CT kickoff at Legion Field)… the sky will be partly to mostly sunny with temperatures in the low to mid 80s. It will be a warm October afternoon.
Auburn hosts Mississippi State (2:30p CT kickoff) at Jordan Hare Stadium… dry and warm weather is the story with temperatures in the 81-84 degree for most of the game. The sky will be mostly sunny.
ON THIS DATE IN 2005: After passing northwest of the Florida Keys, Hurricane Wilma struck southwestern Florida near Cape Romano on October 24, 2005 with winds of 120 mph. Wilma rapidly crossed the state and weakened, emerging into the Atlantic Ocean near Jupiter. Before the Florida landfall, at one point Wilma was a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds of 185 mph. After Wilma, no major hurricane made landfall in the contiguous United States until Hurricane Harvey made landfall in southern Texas on August 26, 2017, ending a record period of 11 years and 10 months.
Look for the next video briefing here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos
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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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