Sunday Weather Briefing: Stalled Front to Bring Showers and Storms Monday and Tuesday

NO VIDEO THIS MORNING DUE TO OVERNIGHT SEVERE WEATHER SUPPORT IN OKLAHOMA

Saturday was a beautiful day across Alabama, starting with clear skies and a few pockets of patchy fog that gave way to a stunning sunrise. Morning lows showcased the state’s typical spring variability—ranging from a crisp 45 degrees in Gadsden to a much milder 67 in Alexander City. Birmingham checked in at 58, Tuscaloosa at 57, Anniston at 51, and Calera at 52, making for a refreshingly cool start before the warmth of the day took hold.

While Alabama eased into the weekend with postcard conditions, the story was very different to our west. A sharpening dryline and a strengthening upper-level trough across Texas set the stage for a dangerous severe weather setup. By mid-afternoon, explosive thunderstorm development was underway across southwestern Texas, with supercells firing along the front capable of producing giant hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. The tornado threat increased as things headed into the evening and tornado watches were posted for parts of Texas and Oklahoma.

Happy Easter vintage sign with eggs on white background 8 eps

EASTER SUNRISE BEGINS WITH A GENTLE GLOW
Sunrise services across Central Alabama will be greeted by a soft glow filtering through partly cloudy skies on this Easter Sunday. Conditions will be dry and comfortable early, with temperatures in the lower 60s and a gentle southerly breeze. Some high clouds will be present, but they shouldn’t obscure the view as the sun rises over the horizon—casting a fitting light on this special morning of reflection and celebration. In Birmingham, sunrise is scheduled for 6:14 a.m. CDT. Whether you’re gathering on a hillside, in a church courtyard, or simply watching from your front porch, expect a quiet and peaceful start to the day.

WARM AND DRY FOR YOUR EASTER PLANS
After sunrise, temperatures will climb steadily under filtered sunshine, reaching the upper 70s by lunchtime and topping out in the mid to upper 80s during the afternoon—expect highs around 86° in Birmingham, 87° in Tuscaloosa, and 85° in Anniston. High clouds will drift in from the west throughout the day, but they’ll do little to block the warmth or spoil any outdoor gatherings, egg hunts, or family picnics. A steady south breeze of 5 to 10 mph, with occasional gusts near 20 mph, will add a little movement to the air and a reminder of the changes brewing to our west. Overall, it will be a picture-perfect spring day to celebrate the holiday.

QUIET NIGHT BEFORE THE STORMS RETURN
Easter Sunday evening will be mild and pleasant, with temperatures slowly falling through the 70s after sunset under partly to mostly cloudy skies. Overnight lows will settle in the lower 60s—expect around 63° in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, and near 61° in Anniston. South winds will remain elevated, occasionally gusting over 20 mph at times as the pressure gradient tightens ahead of an approaching front. While clouds will continue to increase overnight, the rain will hold off until Monday. It’s the calm—albeit a breezy one—before an unsettled start to the new week.

FRONT STALLS OUT, BRINGS WAVES OF RAIN MONDAY AND TUESDAY
A cold front approaching from the northwest will lose steam as it reaches Alabama on Monday, running into a stubborn surface high anchored to our east. Forecast discussions and SPC outlooks support this stalled boundary scenario, with the front draping itself across north and north-central Alabama and lingering there through Tuesday. This setup will keep much of the area under a moist, unsettled flow—leading to periods of showers and a few thunderstorms both days.

SPC notes that shear will be weak and instability modest, especially across the Deep South, so the threat of organized severe weather remains low. Instead, we’re looking at off-and-on rain with embedded rumbles of thunder. We probably will be looking at a marginal risk for Monday, and again Tuesday. Rain chances will be highest along and northwest of the I-59 corridor, particularly Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. Monday’s highs will remain in the low 80s for most, cooling back into the mid 70s Tuesday due to thicker cloud cover and more persistent rainfall. It’s a classic springtime stalled front scenario—less about severe storms, more about waves of wet weather.

MIDWEEK PATTERN STAYS UNSETTLED, BUT WITH A FEW BREAKS
Wednesday will keep Central Alabama under a moist and somewhat unstable air mass, but the weather may not be quite as soggy as Monday and Tuesday. As the stalled front lifts northward as a warm front, rain coverage may become a bit more scattered, with drier intervals possible—especially during the morning hours. Still, upper-level disturbances riding along the west-southwest flow could spark additional rounds of showers and a few thunderstorms by afternoon. Severe weather is not expected, and while a few stronger storms can’t be ruled out, organized threats appear low. Highs should rebound into the lower 80s with lows starting the day in the lower 60s.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY: WARMING UP WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS
Thursday and Friday will bring a mix of sun and clouds to Central Alabama, with daytime highs climbing into the low to mid-80s. Thursday may see a few scattered showers, particularly in the afternoon, as lingering moisture interacts with daytime heating. By Friday, the chance of rain diminishes, and skies become partly cloudy, setting the stage for a pleasant start to the weekend. Overnight lows will remain mild, ranging from the mid-60s to near 70°F.?

WEEKEND OUTLOOK: SUNSHINE RETURNS FOR A BUSY WEEKEND
The weekend is shaping up to be favorable for outdoor activities across Central Alabama. Saturday and Sunday are expected to feature mostly sunny skies with only a slight chance of isolated showers, primarily during the afternoon hours. High temperatures will be comfortable, reaching the low to mid-80s, while overnight lows will settle in the mid-60s. This pleasant weather coincides with several major events in the area, including the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and the Magic City Art Connection in Birmingham. Attendees can look forward to enjoying these events under mostly clear skies and warm temperatures, making for an ideal spring weekend.

BEACH GOERS BEWARE: HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THIS WEEK
If you’re heading to the beautiful beaches of Alabama or Northwest Florida for Easter break, pack the sunscreen—but also take extra caution in the surf. Despite warm, partly to mostly sunny weather and pleasant air temperatures in the upper 70s to near 80°, a prolonged period of high rip current risk is expected through at least Tuesday night. Southeast winds will remain elevated, pushing surf heights to between 3 and 5 feet for several days.

Water temperatures are running in the lower 70s, ideal for a refreshing dip, but the risk of life-threatening rip currents is high across Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Destin, and nearby coastal areas. Even experienced swimmers are urged to stay near lifeguards and out of the water when red flags are flying. Conditions will gradually improve by midweek, but beachgoers should remain alert to changing surf advisories before venturing into the Gulf.

COMING UP ON WEATHERBRAINS 1005: SEVERE WEATHER RISK WHERE CROWDS GATHER
This Monday night on WeatherBrains, we welcome Dr. Stephen Strader, Associate Professor at Villanova University and one of the nation’s leading voices in understanding the intersection of weather, geography, and public safety. His research has focused heavily on how societal factors—like urbanization, mobile home distribution, and mass gatherings—shape the way severe weather impacts communities.
We’ll dive into his most recent study on tornado and lightning risks at large outdoor gatherings, including state fairs, concerts, festivals, and sporting events. Dr. Strader’s work is already changing the way emergency managers and event organizers think about planning for weather threats. From lightning warning systems to the geographic hot spots with the highest risks, we’ll explore what needs to be done to better protect attendees when weather turns dangerous. It’s an episode packed with insight for meteorologists, emergency planners, and anyone who attends major outdoor events.

ON THIS DATE IN 1920
On the morning and early afternoon of April 20, 1920, a catastrophic tornado outbreak devastated parts of Mississippi and northern Alabama, claiming 219 lives and injuring over 1,500. Unusually, the tornadoes occurred during the morning hours, a time when tornado activity is typically minimal. At least six F4 tornadoes were confirmed across the region.

One of the longest-tracked tornadoes began in Mississippi, tearing through Oktibbeha, Clay, Monroe, and Itawamba Counties before crossing into Alabama near 8:00 a.m. CST. It continued across Marion, Franklin, Colbert, and Lawrence Counties, devastating communities along a 130-mile path. In Marion County alone, 20 people were killed, including nine in Bexar. The tornado was nearly 800 yards wide and was responsible for 88 deaths and over 700 injuries across both states.

Later in the morning, a violent F4 tornado cut a 50-mile swath through Fayette, Walker, Winston, Cullman, and Morgan Counties. The towns of Arley and Helicon were especially hard hit, where 19 of the 21 fatalities occurred—nine of them in one family. Homes were swept clean from their foundations, and dozens more were injured.

Just after noon, another F4 tornado struck Madison County. It traveled 20 miles from south of Lily Flag to southeast of Huntsville, obliterating tenant homes, farmsteads, and forests. The communities of Gurley and Brownsboro were among the hardest hit. Twenty-seven people were killed and 100 injured as the tornado reached a width of 400 yards.

The destruction and loss of life from this morning outbreak remains one of the most significant tornado disasters in Southern U.S. history.

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