RADAR CHECK: The most widespread rain at mid-afternoon is over Northwest Alabama; a number of aerial flood warnings and advisories have been issued there. Showers are more scattered in nature over the rest of the state. There is a huge thermal contrast… at mid-afternoon Montgomery soared to 81 degrees south of a warm front, but to the north Haleyville was 36 degrees colder at 45.
SOAKED: Just before daybreak a zone of rain and thunderstorms was lined up across North/Central Alabama near a surface front that has been oscillating across the region over the past few days. South of the front, temperatures are in the low 70s at Mobile and Dothan, while we have 40s north of the front at places like Huntsville and Decatur. The overall pattern won’t change much today; a flood watch remains in effect for the northern half of the state, and we will have occasional rain and a few thunderstorms. For places like Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Anniston, and Gadsden temperatures will peak in the 57-62 degree range. No risk of severe storms today.
FLOOD WATCH: A flood watch remains in effect for the northern half of Alabama as another big batch of rain and storms moves through this afternoon. Stronger storms are producing lots of lightning and heavy rain, but thankfully the severe weather threat has diminished statewide. Temperatures are mostly in the 50s over North Alabama, with 60s to the south. But, parts of Northeast Alabama remain in the 40s as the cold air is taking longer to be scoured out.
UNSETTLED WEATHER CONTINUES: Today will be another windy, wet, stormy day for Alabama, but at least temperatures will be considerably warmer for the northern counties of the state as a warm front moves north of us. A tight pressure gradient will keep winds (away from thunderstorms) out of the southeast in the 15-25 mph range, with higher gusts.
SOAKER: As expected, this has been a cold, wet day across Alabama. Despite temperatures only in the upper 30s and 40s, we have experienced a good bit of thunder over the northern counties of the state today thanks to elevated convection/very cold air aloft. Heavier storms have produced small hail in a few places, only hours after some sleet came down early this morning.
COLD AND WET: As this day begins we have widespread rain falling over North Alabama in a cold airmass. In fact, a number of places had some sleet at the onset of the precipitation thanks to evaporative cooling. Temperatures, however, are above freezing, and there is no impact from the sleet.
THIS AFTERNOON: As advertised, we have a dry afternoon over the northern half of the state with a mix of sun and clouds; temperatures are in the 40s and 50s. But, to the south, we note showers at mid-afternoon along a nearly stationary front from near Linden to Montgomery. These showers are moving eastward, and below that stalled front temperatures are in the 60s.
ON THE MAPS: A surface front is over South Alabama this morning; north of that front temperatures are in the 37-45 degree range, but south of the front Dothan report 60 degrees just before daybreak. For North/Central Alabama, today will be mostly cloudy and cool with temperatures holding in the 40s north of Birmingham, with 50s south of I-20. The sun could break out a bit this afternoon, and the day should be dry. Showers will be confined to the far southern counties of the state.
Clouds continue to linger across much of the area this afternoon as the front drifts down into the southern counties of the state.
RADAR CHECK: We are just seeing a few widely scattered showers on radar this afternoon; the sky is cloudy with temperatures in the 60s. A cold front is near the Alabama/Tennessee state line; we are seeing mostly 40s over Tennessee on the north side of the front.
A FEW SHOWERS TODAY: A surface front will approach Alabama from the north today, meaning a mostly cloudy sky along with the risk of scattered showers as moisture levels rise. Showers will become more numerous tonight as the front eases southward through the northern counties of the state. Look for a high in the 60s this afternoon… the average high at Birmingham on February 15 is 58.
HIGH CLOUDS BUT DRY: A canopy of high cirrus clouds is over Alabama this afternoon; we still have some filtered sunshine with temperatures mostly in the low 60s. Nothing on radar, and we will stay dry tonight.
NICE WARM-UP TODAY: Temperatures are mostly in the 30s across Alabama this morning… and colder pockets across North/Central Alabama are around the freezing mark. We expect a nice warm-up on this Valentines Day with temperatures reaching the mid 60s this afternoon with a partly sunny sky. Clouds will increase tonight as moisture levels rise.
BLUE SKY AND SUNSHINE: Nothing but sunshine across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures mostly in the 50s over the northern counties, with 60s to the south. Tonight will be fair and chilly with a low in the 30s. The air stays dry tomorrow; we will forecast a partly sunny day with a high in the mid 60s.
CHILLY START: Temperatures are generally in the 30s across the northern half of Alabama this morning, but a few colder spots have dipped into the upper 20s. Look for sunshine in full supply across the state today, with a high in the 56-60 range for north and central counties of the state. Tonight will be clear with a low in the 30s, and we stay dry tomorrow with a partly sunny sky along with a high in the 60s.
SOAKED: Widespread rain has ended from Birmingham north and west… lingering light rain over East Alabama will end soon as cooler, drier air continues to roll into the state. Many communities are reporting rain totals from one two inches today.
