Easter Sunday Weather Briefing Video: Sunny and Warm for your Holiday

As the blossoms of spring unfurl their colors and the air grows warmer, we find ourselves at the heart of a season filled with renewal and reflection. As many celebrate Easter with traditions that herald new beginnings this weekend, we also acknowledge our friends observing Passover, a time of remembering and gratitude. In this spirit of unity and renewal, let’s explore the wonders this season’s weather brings to us, from the gentle showers that promise flowers to the clear, starry nights that remind us of the stories shared across generations. Welcome to our special Easter and Passover edition, where the forecast is always brighter when we celebrate our shared skies and the diverse traditions that bring us together.

EASTER WEATHER FACTS FOR BIRMINGHAM: Since weather records have been kept in Birmingham (1895), Easter has occurred as early as March 23rd (1913) and as late as April 25th (1943). The warmest Easter Sunday occurred in 1910, when it was 88F on March 27th. If the high today at BHM reaches the expected 81F, it will be the 29th warmest Easter on record. Our average Easter high is 72F, and our average Easter low is 49F. Our coldest Easter on record occurred on 4/1/1923 and 3/28/1937 with 28F. 10 of the 129 reported lows were freezing or below. This morning’s projected low of 55F would put us on the warm side of the middle of the 129 Easter dates on record, or around 41st warmest. It was as warm as 69F on Easter morning back in 1936, which fell on April 12th, one of the latest dates for the holiday. We have had measurable rain on 33 of the 130 recorded dates with a value for precipitation, or about 25% of the time. The most recorded rain on Easter was 2.80 inches, which fell on 4/12/2020. How could we forget that Easter, with lots of severe weather in addition to the heavy rain? It has never snowed on Easter in Birmingham. No big surprise there. Many thanks to Jessica Laws from NWS Birmingham for updating the stats!

SUNDAY: A BRIGHT EASTER: Easter Sunday across North and Central Alabama will shine bright with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. A broad mid-level ridge, bringing dry and warm conditions to the Deep South, will continue to extend its comforting embrace. While the west might see a few more clouds, the overall theme for the day is clear skies and a warm breeze from the southwest, with gusts reaching up to 20-25mph. Temperatures are set to soar, making it a delightful Easter with highs ranging from the upper 70s in the north to the low 80s in central regions. It’s a perfect day for outdoor Easter egg hunts and celebrations.

MONDAY: PRELUDE TO CHANGE: As we step into the week, Monday holds onto the theme of warmth and dryness, setting the stage for an unusually warm early April. Daytime temperatures will hover near the 80-degree mark across much of North and Central Alabama, only dipping into the mid to upper 60s through the night. Increasing cloud cover hints at the changes to come, but the day remains free from rain, offering a serene start to the week.

TUESDAY: A GATHERING STORM: Tuesday shifts significantly as a cold front advances towards Alabama, powered by a positively tilted longwave trough. This setup increases chances of rain and thunderstorms, peaking Tuesday afternoon into the early evening. With temperatures continuing to climb and dew points rising, conditions become ripe for severe weather. Storm mode could be mainly linear, with the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms, mainly characterized by damaging wind gusts. While the threat of hail and tornadoes exists, the overall instability and shear patterns suggest a primary concern for damaging winds. Please pay attention to the forecast in the next couple of days.

MIDWEEK TRANSITION: THE COOL DOWN: Following Tuesday’s tempest, a cooler air mass sweeps across North and Central Alabama. Wednesday might feel markedly cooler, with daytime highs potentially struggling to escape the 50s. This cooler shift, courtesy of a Canadian air mass merging with the remnants of Tuesday’s system, brings a noticeable drop in humidity and an autumnal crispness to the air. Temperatures on Thursday and Friday mornings could dip into the 30s, reminding us of the lingering breath of winter.

FROST NOT DONE WITH US? With temperatures in the 30s over the northern third of the state Thursday and Friday morning, frost may be a possibility, particularly in protected areas such as valleys. Saturday morning frost is a little less likely but still possible.

LOOKING AHEAD: A RESURGENCE OF MILDNESS: As the week closes and we look towards the weekend, the weather patterns across North and Central Alabama seem to settle into a more stable, dry, and mild regime. The potential development of an omega block pattern across the continental U.S. hints at a prolonged period of pleasant weather. This transition marks an ideal time for outdoor activities and garden planning, as we enjoy the mild, serene weather stretching into the next weekend, leaving the tumultuous weather of Tuesday firmly in the past. Saturday and Sunday highs will be in the 70s, with lows in the 40s.

ECLIPSECAST: Looking at deterministic data from the GFS, it looks like the only safe bet for seeing the eclipse in totality will be over New England. The European is pretty much in agreement with that. The ensemble output favors this as well. Here in Alabama, we are looking partly sunny at best, but hopefully our chances to see the 88% that will be covered in Birmingham will be decent. In 2017, 92% of the sun was covered in Birmingham. Of course, there is a huge difference in being 100% in totality.

DEEPER INTO VOODOO: Clouds and showers impinge on Alabama on the 8th and 9th, hopefully not in time for the eclipse. Rain will remain in the forecast for much of that week.

BEACHCAST: Showers Tuesday night and early Wednesday, but that is about the only set of rain chances until late in week two. Highs over the next two weeks with be in the 70s most every day, with a wide range of 40s, 50s, and 60s each morning. The rip current risk will be low to moderate through midweek. Water temperatures are in the mid 60s.

Click here to see the Beach Forecast Center page.

NATIONALLY: California is adding to its snowpack with more heavy snow overnight in the Sierras. Winter storm warnings are in effect until late this morning. 4-8 inches of snow will be the totals away from the crests and Carson Range, where up to 20 inches may fall. One of my favorite places, Flagstaff, Arizona, looked beautiful Saturday afternoon, but a band of snow moved across the area during the overnight hours, producing several inches of snow as snowfall rates reached 1-2 inches per hour.

DANCING WITH THE STATS: Marquette, MI picked up 2.7” of snow on Saturday, setting a new maximum snowfall record for the date.

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WEATHERBRAINS: This week, the panel will host a stellar panel of folks impacted by the 1974 Superoutbreak of tornadoes across 14 states and Canada, including Alabama, where 82 people died. Check out the show at www.WeatherBrains.com. You can also subscribe on iTunes. You can watch the show live at live.bigbrainsmedia.com or on James’ YouTube Channel You will be able to see the show on the James Spann 24×7 weather channel on cable or directly over the air on the dot 2 feed.

ON THIS DATE IN 1962: 17 people killed by tornado at Milton FL, Florida’s worst tornado disaster. An F3 tornado ripped through Milton killing 17 people and injuring 100. Damage was set at $1.5 million. Follow my weather history tweets on Twitter. I am @wxhistorian at Twitter.com.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Severe Weather