THE DAY AHEAD: Most of Alabama is dry this morning; temperatures are very pleasant over the northern half of the state where some of the cooler spots are in the 50s. We expect a high in the mid 80s today with a partly sunny sky; an organized batch of rain and storms will move through parts of West and South Alabama this afternoon and this evening, driving by a northwest flow aloft over the region.
HERE COMES THE HEAT: Birmingham’s official high yesterday was 91 degrees; the first day with a high of 90 or higher this year (based on the official observations at the airport). The average date of our first 90 degree day is May 23, so we are a few days early this year. Look out for low to mid 90s later this week (Wednesday through Friday)… it will be the hottest weather so far this year as an upper ridge strengthens over the region.
WARM MAY DAYS: The sky is mostly sunny across Alabama this afternoon with a field of shallow cumulus clouds; showers are almost impossible to find on radar at mid-afternoon. Temperatures are in the upper 70s on the eastern side of the state… West Alabama is warmer with mid 80s. Tonight will be mostly fair with a low in the 60s.
WARM MAY DAYS: Alabama’s weather won’t change much through the weekend. We expect partly sunny days, fair nights, and isolated showers and thunderstorms around from time to time. The chance of any one front yard seeing rain today is 15 percent, 35 percent tomorrow, and 25 percent Sunday. Like summer, the showers that form over the weekend will be random, and no way of knowing where and when they pop up in advance.
RADAR CHECK: We have a few small, isolated showers and thunderstorms over far West Alabama this afternoon… one is west of Florence at mid-afternoon… others are across parts of Sumter, Greene, and Choctaw counties. The rest of the state is dry with a mostly sunny sky.
RADAR CHECK: As advertised, we have a few small, spotty showers on radar early this morning across the central counties of Alabama. These are moving southward, and we also note a couple of lightning strikes as well. We will see these around through the afternoon, but odds of any one particular spot getting wet remain 20 percent or less.
SUMMER-LIKE AFTERNOON: Temperatures are in the 87-91 degree range across Alabama this afternoon with a good supply of sunshine. A disturbance will bring some clouds to the state late tonight, and we will mention a chance of isolated showers early tomorrow morning, generally between 3 and 8 a.m. Then, the sky becomes mostly sunny during the day with a high in the upper 80s.
WARM, MOSTLY DRY: An upper ridge will deflect most of the major rain producing systems well to the north and west of Alabama for the foreseeable future, and temperatures will remain above average. Look for a high in the 86-91 degree range today with a partly to mostly sunny sky.
RADAR CHECK: We have a few small, isolated showers across Alabama this afternoon, otherwise the sky is partly sunny with temperatures in the 86-90 degree range for most communities. But, active weather is likely tonight and tomorrow as a cold front approaches.
