WARM FEBRUARY DAY: Temperatures are mostly in the mid to upper 70s across Alabama this afternoon with a mostly cloudy sky. Clouds will persist tonight, and gradient winds (not related to thunderstorms) will ramp up ahead of a cold front, possibly gusting to 40 mph at times.
I hoped you enjoyed the sun the past few days, because we may not see it fully for quite some time. Today is featuring a cloudy sky, but despite the clouds it is a very warm day as temperatures are surging into the upper 70s and lower 80s.
SUNNY, WINDY AFTERNOON: The sky is sunny across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures mostly in the 70s; west winds are averaging 10-20 mph with gusts to 35 mph in spots. A wind advisory will remain in effect for much of North and East Alabama through the evening hours. Tonight will be fair and cool with a low in the 40s. Colder spots could see upper 30s again.
MILD AFTERNOONS, COOL NIGHTS: A wind advisory is in effect today for much of North and East Alabama as pressure gradient winds remain strong. West winds will average 10 to 20 mph later today, with gusts up to 35 mph possible. Otherwise, sunny weather continues today with a high in the mid 70s. We note the average high for Birmingham on May 2 is 79.
ACTIVE MARCH DAY: A dynamic weather system will bring very windy conditions to Alabama today along with the potential for severe thunderstorms. The system is a bit late in arriving, and the windows for severe storms have been pushed back a few hours. But, the overall forecast concept remains the same.
RADAR CHECK: We have a band of showers moving across the northern half of Alabama ahead of a surface boundary. The air is stable, and the showers are generally light… they end tonight as drier air pushes into the state. As expected, it is very windy over the northern 2/3 of Alabama with gusts to 30/35 mph in spots.
ACTIVE WEEK AHEAD: We have some active weather ahead for Alabama this week… it begins today with a wind advisory for the northern 2/3 of the state. Gradient winds (not related to thunderstorms) could gust to 35/40 mph in spots this afternoon along and north of U.S. 80. Otherwise, we will bring in a chance of scattered showers this afternoon and tonight, but nothing too heavy or widespread.
WINDY, WET NIGHT AHEAD: A dynamic weather system will bring widespread rain to Alabama tonight, along with strong gradient winds, not related to thunderstorms. There is a chance that unstable air could creep into the southwest corner of Alabama, and SPC maintains an “enhanced risk” (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms for areas south of a line from Millry to Brewton.
RADAR CHECK: Showers and thunderstorms are forming across Mississippi just before daybreak ahead of a cold front. Storms will enter West Alabama shortly, then progressing through the rest of the state during the day.
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.
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.
