IMPROVING WEATHER: We expect a clearing sky for Alabama today as drier air works into the state, but temperatures will remain below average. Highs will be in the 40-45 degree range for most communities… the average high for Birmingham on February 19 is 60. Tonight will be clear and cold… we drop into the 17-25 degree range early tomorrow morning.
CLEARING: The sky has cleared over the northern third of the state this afternoon where the sun is out in full force, but clouds linger over the central and southern counties, where some scattered light rain is still in progress. Rain will end this evening, and the sky becomes mostly fair statewide tonight. There is a chance we see some dense fog after midnight with a clear sky, light wind, and wet ground.
COLDER, DRIER: A large mass of rain has moved out of Alabama early this morning; it brought rain amounts of one to two inches to much of the state. A small, brief tornado apparently touch down shortly after 1:00 a.m. in Southwest Jefferson County near the Hoover/Bessemer line knocking down some trees and power lines.
RADAR CHECK: Most of the really significant rain has moved into Georgia this afternoon, but there is still some patchy drizzle over East Alabama under a cold core upper trough passing overheard. The sky is mostly cloudy, but the clearing process has started across parts of West and Southwest Alabama. The sky will clear statewide tonight.
DRIER AIR MOVING IN: Clouds this morning across Alabama will give way to a sunny afternoon as dry air returns to the state. Humidity values will be noticeably lower than recent days. Tonight will be clear and cool with a low in the 40s, and tomorrow we will enjoy sunshine in full supply with a high at or just over 70 degrees.
ROUGH NIGHT: As expected, we experienced a high impact, widespread wind event across Alabama last night and early this morning as Tropical Storm Zeta moved through. Winds gusted as high as 76 mph across Central Alabama, knocking down thousands of trees. As I write this early this morning, Alabama Power reports 494,000 customers without power, and that number will only rise in coming hours. Many trees came down on homes and cars, but to my knowledge there have been no serious injuries in Alabama.
RADAR CHECK: We have some lingering light rain over parts of East and Central Alabama early this morning, but the main rain shield associated with the remnant circulation of Sally is over Georgia and the Carolinas. Rain will end this morning, and the sky becomes partly sunny this afternoon with a high in the low 80s.
DRIER AIR ARRIVING: After another day of heavy rain and strong to severe thunderstorms, improving weather headlines the Alabama forecast today as dry air returns. Morning clouds will give way to afternoon sunshine; the high will be in the low 70s. The average high for Birmingham on April 20 is 76. Tomorrow will be another rain-free day with a good supply of sunshine; the high will be in the mid to upper 70s.
STORMY START: Strong storms are over West Alabama as I write this post just before daybreak; severe thunderstorm warnings were required for parts of Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Greene, Hale, and Sumter counties. These storms will weaken soon, and rain will end by mid-morning as drier air works into the state. The sky becomes sunny today with a high between 75 and 80 degrees for most communities. The average high for Birmingham on April 9 is 73.
CLEARING SKY: The sun is shining brightly over Northwest Alabama this afternoon as dry air is moving into the state. Some light rain is lingering over Far East Alabama, but that will end soon, and the clearing will continue this evening.
RAIN ENDING: Rain will continue to end from west to east across Alabama this afternoon as drier air punches into the state. The sky clears late tonight, and by tomorrow morning we will be cloud-free with temperatures in the upper 20s.
RADAR CHECK: Bands of showers and thunderstorms are moving across Alabama early this morning; as expected we have not had any issues with severe storms, but gradient winds are strong (not related to thunderstorms)… gusting to 30 mph at times. Rain will end from west to east early this morning, and the sky will be sunny by late morning or early afternoon. Temperatures are mild this morning; in fact near 70 degrees at places like Tuscaloosa and Muscle Shoals at daybreak, but they will fall through the 60s today with a brisk west wind.
A STATE DIVIDED: For those in West Alabama, most of this day has been bright and sunny with temperatures in the 50s this afternoon. However, for the eastern two-thirds of the state, it has been a cloudy, cold, and wet day as a cold core upper low moves overhead. Rain continues this afternoon mainly along and east of I-65, where temperatures are only in the mid 40s.
DRIER AIR ROLLS IN LATER TODAY: Lingering showers across Alabama this morning will end soon, and we expect clearing by midday, with sunshine in full force this afternoon as dry air takes over. The high will be close to 70 degrees; the average high for October 16 at Birmingham is 75.
Our long time friend, mentor, and charter Weather Factory member, J.B. Elliott, passed away on May 11, 2015. Click HERE to read James' tribute.
