Coldest Air So Far Arrives Tomorrow

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BRIGHTER THIS AFTERNOON: Light rain is hanging around early this morning over Central Alabama, but that rain will exit the state soon as drier air begins to roll in on increasing northwest winds. Look for returning sunshine this afternoon, but temperatures will stay cool with most places in the 50s all day again today.

COLD SHOT: Cold air advection really kicks in tomorrow as a vigorous upper trough deepens over the eastern quarter of the nation. Tomorrow will feature a partly sunny sky, and we will have a hard time getting out of the 40s with the projected low level thickness values. Some wrap around moisture will bring a chance of light snow to the mountains of East Tennessee and West North Carolina; Gatlinburg will see their first snow flakes of the season. And, there is some chance a snow flake or two could be seen as far south as Lookout Mountain over the northeast corner of Alabama around Mentone. Our friends up there might hold in the 30s all day. And, a northwest wind of 15-25 mph will make it feel colder. No, we are not in summer anymore!

WEEKEND FREEZE: We still project the first widespread freeze of the season early Saturday and Sunday morning, with lows in the 25 to 30 degree range for most places. Looks like we might have a little wind still going early Saturday, so the coldest morning for the valleys and protected areas could very well be Sunday. Very dry air means maximum available sunshine both days, with a high in the mid 50s Saturday, and close to 60 Sunday.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: For the first round of the high school football playoffs tomorrow night, you will need a warm jacket. The sky will be mostly fair, with temperatures falling from the mid 40s at kickoff into the upper 30s by the fourth quarter. I would imagine hot chocolate will be the most popular item at the concession stands this week.

Auburn hosts Chattanooga Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium (12:00 noon kickoff)… the game will be played under a brilliantly sunny sky, with temperatures in the 55 to 58 degree range during the game. Alabama is on the road; they play LSU in Baton Rouge Saturday afternoon (2:30 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be sunny with a kickoff temperature near 65 degrees, dropping into the mid 50s by the final whistle. UAB will host Marshall at Legion Field Saturday afternoon at 3:15… the sky will be clear with temperatures falling from near 57 at kickoff into the mid 40s by the end of the game.

NEXT WEEK: Monday morning will be pretty cold, with the colder spots going below freezing again, but a slow warming trend is the story, with highs close to 70 by Thursday. The GFS continues to suggest our next chance of rain will come at the end of the week, and possibly into Saturday November 13. The upper support is passing north of Alabama, so it remains to be seen if that will be a major rain event…

TROPICS: Tropical Storm Tomas could become a minimal hurricane is it clips the western tip of Haiti tomorrow. There is great concern over the potential for rain and flooding; these tweets came in from our friend Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel, who is in Haiti…

“Just getting up and running in #Haiti. Sad situation even without #Tomas. 1.3 million in tents unthinkable. Tomas could be a catastrophe. This is not like any assignment I have ever done. I can’t help these people no matter what I say or know. Hopefully the world will see. A man told me he estimates only 2% of the rubble has been removed from earthquake. Workers are paid $5 a day in a bucket by bucket approach.”

Tomas is no threat to the U.S.

STORM ALERT XTREME: Our annual storm spotter training is coming up November 13 at the BJCC, as part of the Alabama International Auto show. We begin at 9:00, and you will be done at 2:00. And, as a “thank you”, you will get free admission into the car show. There is no cost, and no need to register, just show up. Brian Peters will be the trainer, and we ask all existing and potential Skywatchers to attend. See you there!

FOLLOW ALONG: Here are our weather team Twitter accounts….

I will be doing a weather program today at Glenwood School in Birmingham… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!

Tags: clearing, cold, freeze

Category: Alabama's Weather