SOME FROST EARLY TOMORROW: Tonight will be clear and cold with a light wind. Most of the larger cities will see a low between 38 and 42, but colder spots will drop down into the 30-36 degree range due to radiational cooling, with a chance of frost. Growers beware. Then, the day tomorrow will be sunny and warmer with a high back in the 70s.
WINDY, COLD MARCH DAY: Temperatures are mostly in the upper 40s and low 50s across Alabama this afternoon with a strong northwest wind, making it feel colder. We have a mix of sun and clouds; the sky will become clear tonight.
THIS AFTERNOON: Temperatures are only in the 40s over the northern third of Alabama this afternoon with a chilly north wind; Birmingham reports 53 degrees at 3p CT…. that is 13 degrees below the average high of 66.
BLUE SKY AND SUNSHINE: With a good supply of sunshine this afternoon, temperatures are in the mid 50s across much of North/Central Alabama, about ten degrees below average for mid-March in Alabama. Tonight will be clear and cold; a freeze warning is in effect for areas north of a line from Tuscaloosa to Brent to Clanton to Opelika.
TOMORROW/THURSDAY: The wind will be near calm tomorrow and Thursday morning, opening the door for lots of frost, and lows in the 20s for many North/Central Alabama communities. A freeze warning is in effect tonight for areas north of a line from Tuscaloosa to Clanton to Auburn.
BREEZY/COOL MARCH DAY: As expected, we now have sunshine in full force across Alabama this afternoon following morning clouds and snow flurries. But, temperatures are only in the low 50s with a chilly north wind of 15-25 mph. A freeze warning is in effect for North/Central Alabama tonight; with a clear sky we project a low in the low 30s early tomorrow. The wind will stay up during the night, so we don’t expect much frost, and temperatures should be fairly uniform.
FREEZE WARNING: A freeze warning is in effect for much of North/Central Alabama for tonight and early tomorrow morning as temperatures are expected to drop to near 30 degrees. We also expect sub-freezing lows early Wednesday and Thursday mornings with lows in the 20s in many areas. Growers need to be ready to protect plants harmed by these kind of temperatures.
Most locations across North/Central Alabama will see a low between 25 and 30 degrees, but colder pockets will visit the lower 20s. With a calm wind, widespread frost is likely. Then, we warm nicely during the day tomorrow with a sunny sky; the high will be in the low to mid 60s.
RAIN RETURNS OVER THE WEEKEND: A surface low will form west of the state Saturday, and will pull moist air northward into our state. Clouds will increase with a risk of showers…. but a decent part of the day should be dry with a high between 67 and 70 degree. Rain becomes widespread across the state Saturday night and Sunday as a surface low passes over the northern counties of Alabama.
COLD NIGHTS AHEAD: Temperatures across this afternoon are only in the 40s over parts of North Alabama, and we project sub-freezing readings early tomorrow and Friday morning. The low early tomorrow morning will be in the low 30s for most spots, and a freeze warning is in effect for about the northern half of the state.
OVERCAST, COLD AFTERNOON: Most guidance from computer models suggested we would reach the 50s today across North/Central Alabama, but that won’t happen as thick clouds and cold air advection combine to keep temperatures in the 40s. A cluster of showers is moving into the Birmingham metro around 3:00 p.m. as I write this update.
SUNNY BUT COLD: Temperatures across Alabama are only in the 30s and 40s this afternoon despite a sunny sky; tonight will be clear and cold with a low between 20 and 25 for most places early tomorrow morning. Colder pockets could very well see upper teens.
SEVERE CLEAR: Not a cloud in the Alabama sky this afternoon, and we can celebrate the fact that all observation sites are above freezing at 3:00…
We finally climb above freezing today; most North/Central Alabama locations will see a high around 40 degrees. Still, about 15 degrees below average for mid-January, but certainly moving in the right direction. The air is dry and the sky will stay sunny.
SUB-FREEZING AFTERNOON: Temperatures are mostly in the 20s across Alabama this afternoon; the average high for Birmingham on January 17 is 54. At least the sun is shining brightly as dry air has moved into our state after a messy 24 hour period of snow and ice. Visible satellite imagery shows the snow cover nicely.
