Showers Trying to Push Northwestward

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Clouds spread northwestward into Alabama overnight as a disturbance over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, Florida and the Bahamas slowly got its act together. A large area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere covers much of the aforementioned area and a surface low was trying to form somewhere in the region. You can see it in the 500 mb analysis in the upper left panel of the graphic above.

Meanwhile, strong high pressure was centered over Virgina. You can see it in the lower left panel. The moisture moving up and over the southern extent of the bubble of high pressure was causing the clouds and showers you see in the radar composite in the lower right. The showers are weakening as they move northwestward into drying air.

We will continue to see clouds thicken and shower chances to slowly increase as we head through the day and into the overnight. Highs this afternoon will be clustered around 80F, with cooler middle to upper 70s in cloudier areas and some lower and middle 80s in the west where it will be sunnier. You can see nearly a ten degree difference in temperatures from sunny to cloudy areas in the larger panel on the right in the graphic above.

There is a sharp pressure gradient between the high and low pressure systems and it is causing a brisk easterly and northeasterly wind across North and Central Alabama, with those winds gusting to 15-25 mph at times.

Here is a radar image as of 11:23 a.m.

Areas from Birmingham to Pell City southeastward through East Central Alabama will pick up some light rain through 3 p.m.

There will be a chance of showers through the overnight as well, with a better chance tomorrow. Rain chances on Monday will range from about 30% in Northwest and West Alabama to 40% in the Birmingham to Gadsden Corridor to 50% southeast of Birmingham.

Category: Alabama's Weather