Rain Returns To Alabama Tonight

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ANOTHER FRIGID MORNING: Vic Bell, our Skywatcher at Black Creek (northeast of Gadsden in Etowah County) is reporting 15 degrees early this morning. John Talbot in Hueytown is at 18… the Birmingham Airport is at 24 degrees at 5:00.

We will turn warmer today, with a high near the 50 degree mark in most places with clouds moving in.

TO THE NORTHWEST: Many states northwest of Alabama are under a winter weather advisory, from North Texas into the Midwest. We even note a few counties in Arkansas are under winter storm warnings. This is the result of a storm system lifting out of the Southwest U.S., moving into cP air (continental Polar) over the nation’s mid-section.

Here in Alabama, no doubt the evaporative cooling process will be a factor initially as the precipitation moves into the state. With dew points in the teens, the precipitation will initially evaporate in the dry air, which is a cooling mechanism (same reason you feel cold when you come out of the shower). This means parts of North Alabama will probably see a little sleet, and maybe even a few snow flakes this evening as the event begins, but it will change quickly to all rain as the column warms.

Bottom line is that we don’t expect any accumulation of snow, or travel issues with temperatures above freezing at the surface. Despite the fact there could be a little sleet or a few snow flakes early tonight over North Alabama, mainly along and north of U.S. 278.

TONIGHT/TOMORROW: Periods of rain are likely tonight statewide, with rain ending from west to east early tomorrow. Moisture is pretty limited, and rain amounts will be under 1/2 inch. The atmosphere will continue to warm, with a low around 40 early tomorrow, and a high well up in the 50s tomorrow afternoon.

Wednesday will be even warmer, with a mix of sun and clouds and a high in the upper 60s.

STORMS RETURN LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT: The next weather system will bring showers and thunderstorms to Alabama Wednesday night into Thursday morning. SPC has low end 5 percent severe weather probabilities defined for our state late Wednesday night, but at the moment it seems like the instability values are a little on the low side for a big organized severe weather threat.

The main window for showers and storms will come from about midnight Wednesday night to 12:00 noon Thursday. Rain amounts of about 1 inch look likely with this system.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Friday looks dry and mild with a high around 60, but another fast moving weather system will bring rain back to Alabama on Saturday. If we had cold air in place, this could be a great snow setup for North Alabama with a surface low near Panama City, but no cold air means no snow… just rain. Sunday will be dry and cooler with a high in the 50s.

LONG RANGE: Still no sign of any long lasting cold snap, or winter weather mischief through the rest of February as the NAO stays positive…. see the Weather Xtreme video for long range graphics and details.

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. We will record this week’s show tonight at 8:30 p.m. CST…

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I will be doing a weather program today at North Jefferson Middle School… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so this afternoon. Enjoy the day!

Tags: rain

Category: Alabama's Weather