Big rain event coming, review of cold December

1.  Heavy rain Saturday

We should start out the year 2011 with a big-time rain event.  It’s not the system you see spreading rain out to our west now (in AR, LA, and KY), but another, stronger storm that will push a cold front through here late on New Year’s Day.  There will be plenty of time between now and then for southerly winds to bring in moist gulf air.  This may be one of those times when the air gets moist so fast, with all the cold air we’ve had recently making shaded objects like the sides of houses, carports, etc., cold, that water may just start condensing all over things like a cold glass of Coca-Cola in summetime!   Some fog may occur, too.

With all the moisture coming in, and the storm system, we may see a few showers on Friday, but the heavy rain will come in on Saturday (New Year’s Day).  Expect 1 to 2 inches of rain, with some spots maybe over 3″.  Some thunder is not out of the question. 

2.  Cold December

We’ve had 4 mornings at 19 or below this month.  So far, the average temperature for the month of December 2010 is 38.8 degrees.  We have 2 days left with temperatures probably a little above normal, but we will still probably have the coldest December in 10 years, and perhaps one of the top 5 coldest Decembers on record (since 1896).  Normal temperature for December, based on 1896-2009 records, is 46.1, so we’re about 5.3 degrees below normal.

This follows one of the coldest January/February periods on record early this year, and top 10 hottest June, July, and August, so this will likely be the year with the most widely variable temperatures ever on record.  There are ways to measure this statistically.  I’ll have a more complete report on that, including its making your energy bills higher, next week.

Category: Alabama's Weather