Rain Today and Tonight

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The overall weather pattern is going to remain active for the foreseeable future with a new weather system every 2 to 3 days, keeping weather folk on their toes.

Rain has developed much as expected to our west this morning with rain likely to move into Alabama by late morning and early afternoon. No specific severe weather risk, but conditions appear marginal for damaging wind and isolated tornadoes. Big issue with this system is that the better dynamics are going to be a tad further north away from the better thermodynamics and instability. For Central Alabama, we should see light rain this afternoon with a soaking rain overnight. Due to the fast moving nature of the pattern, the rain should be ending around sunrise for much of Alabama and definitely by mid-morning. Once again, some cold air arrives as the moisture is vacating the premises. So another situation where we may see a little rain/snow mix or perhaps some snow flurries. While it will be dry during the afternoon, it looks like the clouds will hold until Saturday evening.

We dry out with sun returning on Sunday but another chilly day as highs climb only into the upper 40s. Monday we should see a little warming as be get set to bit farewell to 2012. But rain is likely to move into the area by afternoon and into the overnight hours. It appears likely that the first day of 2013 will be a wet one with a high in the mid 50s – just about what you expect based on the 30-year average.

There is another break in the weather action for Wednesday, but Thursday bears some watching as a weak disturbance in the pattern moves quickly through the trough position. Both models keep rain south of Central Alabama, but with significantly cold air just to our north combined with a substantial snow field just to our north, we need to keep an eye for one of those sneaky weather scenarios where the models do not handle thin layers of cold air. I am not forecasting a winter weather event, just saying this pattern is one that can sneak up on you.

A surface high is forecast to settle into the area on Friday giving us a great day.

Rainfall with the next two systems could amount to around 1 to 2 inches for much of Alabama. That will help with the deficit for 2012, a deficit sitting around 4 inches.

The pattern appears likely to remain fast through week two with weather systems around the 5th/6th, the 10th, and the 12th.

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You can get the latest weather information on ABC 3340 at 5, 6 and 10 pm today during the weathercast. I expect to prepare and post the next Weather Xtreme Video first thing Saturday morning. Have a great day and Godspeed.

-Brian-

Category: Alabama's Weather