RADAR CHECK: Rain covers much of Alabama this afternoon; so far no severe thunderstorms and very little lightning. Still, a few strong storms are possible over the southern half of the state through the evening hours where the air has become more unstable in recent hours. Temperatures are in the upper 50s and low 60s where rain is falling; away from the rain a few spots have touched 80 degrees over East and South Alabama.
RAINY NIGHT AHEAD: We have scattered light rain on radar this afternoon, mainly over the eastern half of Alabama, with temperatures in the 60s. Rain will become widespread late tonight as a cold front approaches; rain amounts of around 1/2 inch are likely, with most of the rain coming from about 11:00 tonight through 7:00 a.m. tomorrow. Some thunder is possible, but the air is stable and no severe storms are expected.
WET THURSDAY: An approaching cold front will bring more rain, and possibly a few thunderstorms to Alabama today. Additional rain amounts of 1/2 to 1 inch are expected, and NWS Huntsville continues a flood watch for the Tennessee Valley. On the positive side, SPC has removed the “marginal risk” of severe storms they had outlooked for parts of East Alabama… there just won’t be much surface based instability.
SEVERE STORMS OVER NORTHWEST ALABAMA: An unstable airmass has developed over Northwest Alabama this afternoon, and numerous showers and storms have fired up. A number of severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued by the NWS Birmingham… including parts of Marion, Lamar, and Winston Counties. All of the storms have been showing broad rotation, and we have seen a number of wall cloud photos, but so far no evidence of a tornado.
DELIGHTFUL AFTERNOON: As expected, this has been a delightful late winter day across Alabama. With sunshine in full supply, most communities are somewhere between 67 and 71 degrees this afternoon. Clouds increase tonight, however, as a front down south begins to move northward as a warm front… and some rain is possible after midnight.
WEEKEND WET-DOWN: Expect occasional showers and thunderstorms across Alabama over the weekend, with potential for heavy rain at times. NWS offices in Huntsville and Birmingham have issued flood watches for the northern two-thirds of the state.
RADAR CHECK: We have a wide range of conditions across Alabama this afternoon; rain is falling over parts of North and West Alabama with temperatures only in the upper 40s in spots, but to the southeast, the sun is shining across much of Central and South Alabama with temperatures in the 70s. Montgomery soared to 77 degrees at 3:00.
MILD AFTERNOON: Temperatures are in the 60s across much of Alabama this afternoon, but clouds are thickening, and some patches of light rain are beginning to show up on radar ahead of a cold front. We will mention the chance of rain at times through midnight tonight; moisture will be limited, and rain amounts will be 1/4″ or less for most places.
Today will be pleasant with temperatures reaching the low 60s this afternoon; the sky will be mostly cloudy, and we will mention a chance of some light rain late this afternoon and tonight. Best chance of rain comes from about 4:00 p.m. through 12:00 midnight… moisture will be very limited, and most communities will see 1/4 inch or less.
MOISTURE LEVELS RISING: High clouds are increasing over Alabama this afternoon, but the low levels are dry and there is no rain on radar. Temperatures are mostly in the 57-62 degree range.
FOGGY START: All 67 Alabama counties are under a Dense Fog Advisory early this morning; visibility is very restricted… in come cases under 1/4 of a mile. After the fog dissipates, today will be mostly cloudy with some risk of showers this afternoon… and temperatures will rise into the mid 60s.
MUCH COOLER: A cold front is over South Alabama this morning; north of the front temperatures are in the 50s with a north wind. Temperatures will basically rise very little today over the northern half of the state with clouds holding in place. The front becomes stationary, and a wave of low pressure will move along the front tonight, and should bring fairly widespread rain to much of the state.
COLDEST AIR SO FAR THIS SEASON ON THE WAY: We warm into the low 70s later with clouds increasing ahead of an approaching cold front. A few scattered showers could break out late this afternoon or this evening, but the most widespread rain comes after 10:00 tonight. Rain amounts of 1/2 to 1 inch are likely, and while some thunder is possible, SPC has dropped the “marginal risk” and no severe storms are expected.
A layer of deep tropical moisture remains in place across Alabama this morning with dew points in the mid 70s, and precipitable water values in the 95th percentile. Areas of rain are on radar at daybreak over the northern two-thirds of the state.
CINDY STATS: Tropical Storm Cindy is in the Gulf of Mexico in a highly sheared environment. Sustained winds have increased to 60 mph, but the system is not expected to reach hurricane strength, and landfall should come early tomorrow morning near the Sabine Pass… the Texas/Louisiana border.
