RADAR CHECK: A few showers are over the northern third of Alabama this afternoon under a deep upper trough rotating through the state. Some sleet and graupel have mixed with the rain in spots across the Tennessee Valley due to the very cold air aloft. Otherwise, the sky is mostly cloudy over North Alabama, with a partly to mostly sunny sky for the southern counties of the state.
BLUSTERY: West winds will increase later today across Alabama, averaging 15-25 mph with higher gusts. A disturbance will bring some clouds into the state, along with a few spotty showers this afternoon mainly along and north of I-20. Temperatures won’t get out of the 50s over North Alabama, and some spots across the Tennessee Valley might even hold in the 40s all day.
HANG ON TO YOUR HAT: As expected, it is a very windy morning across Alabama. Gradient winds (not related to thunderstorms) are gusting to 30/40 mph in spots, and a wind advisory remains in effect. The wind will die down later today as the gradient relaxes. Showers continue as a deep upper low evolves just northwest of Alabama this morning. A dry slot will likely bring a little sun later this morning, but clouds will wrap back into the state this afternoon.
SUNNY MAY DAYS: A strong upper high over the eastern third of the U.S. will keep Alabama’s weather rain-free through the weekend. With a mostly sunny sky this afternoon, temperatures are mostly in the low to mid 80s, very close to seasonal averages. Gusty east/southeast winds continue across the state due to a tight pressure gradient; they will die down after sunset. Tonight will be mostly fair with a low in the 60s.
BRING ON THE HEAT: A strong upper high will remain anchored over the eastern third of the nation, and will keep Alabama dry through the weekend and most of next week with rising heat levels. Today look for a partly to mostly sunny sky with a high between 83 and 88 degrees. A tight pressure gradient will make for another windy day… southwest winds will gust to 25/30 mph at times.
THIS AFTERNOON: We have a party sunny sky across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures mostly in the low to mid 80s; the average high for May 19 at Birmingham is 83. Strong southeast winds are gusting to 25/30 mph at times due to a tight pressure gradient over the state, with high pressure to the east, and low pressure to the west.
SNOW: As cold air deepens over North Alabama, rain will most likely change to light snow before ending late this afternoon and tonight. The change could come as early as 4:00 to 6:00 over the northwest corner of the state, but the main window comes from 6:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. Snow accumulation potential will be limited by the warm ground, but some grassy areas could see 1/2 to 1 inch in spots north of U.S. 278 (north of a line from Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden). Roads will be just wet tonight with no travel impact; surface temperatures will be in the mid 30s.
BLUSTERY MONDAY: A deep upper low is moving through the eastern third of the nation this morning, and will pull much colder air down into Alabama today. We note a few snow flurries on radar over the northeast counties of the state early this morning, but temperatures are above freezing, and there will be no impact. Look for a mix of sun and clouds today; temperatures won’t get out of the 40s, and they hold in the 30s all day over the Tennessee Valley of far North Alabama. A brisk northwest wind of 10-20 mph will make it feel colder.
WINDY AND COLD: The Arctic cold front continues to push southward through Alabama this morning; just before daybreak light rain was mainly south of I-59, and it will continue to end from northwest to southeast. As expected, there is some sleet and freezing rain on the back side of the precipitation shield, and also as expected, there is no impact.
