In The Deep Freeze

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A VERY COLD EARLY DECEMBER WEEK: A quick check of reports from our team of Skywatchers across this part of Alabama shows that temperatures are generally in the 22 to 29 degree range; combine that with a north wind of 7-14 mph and the wind chill index is running anywhere from 14 to 24, so bundle up the kids for the bus stop this morning.

Despite a sunny sky, temperatures won’t go far today. The GFS is printing a high of only 39 for Birmingham, and factor in that wind, and it will feel even colder. The last time we had a day with a high below 40 was on February 2 when the high in Birmingham was 36 degrees (and we had a nice blanket of snow on the ground as well).

TOMORROW THROUGH THURSDAY: Each morning, the low should be in the 18-22 degree range for most North-Central Alabama communities, so be ready for three consecutive mornings with a hard freeze. Temperatures each night will be below freezing for at least 8 hours. The high tomorrow will be in the low to mid 40s, but a disturbance coming through the base of the upper trough over the eastern U.S. will pull the thickness values down again Wednesday, with a high closer to 40. Bottom line is that we just won’t warm up much between now and Thursday morning. A warming trend finally begins Thursday afternoon as we get up into the low 50s.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: The high Friday and Saturday will be in the mid 50s, but we will have to deal with a few raindrops over the weekend. The 06Z GFS suggests a chance of a shower Saturday afternoon with the rain a little more widespread Saturday night. Then, another shot of cold air begins to roll in Sunday as the rain ends. Wrap around moisture will mean some chance of snow flurries across North Alabama Sunday or Sunday night.

We do note the ECMWF is a little slower with the rain and the arrival of the cold air; see the Weather Xtreme video for the details.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND: Another very cold airmass settles in here early next week; the Euro hints that we might make a run at record lows 7-8 days from now. Then, a moderating trend is likely for the latter half of next week.

CHRISTMAS? No way anybody knows the weather for Christmas week right now… simply no skill at that. But, we note the GFS keeps the NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) moderately to strongly negative for the next couple of weeks, and until that moves back toward neutral it will be hard to get long periods of mild weather. We will just have to wait and see.

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I have a weather program this morning up at Eva in Morgan County for a home school group… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!

Tags: cold

Category: Alabama's Weather