New Day, Old Forecast
LONG DRY SPELL ROLLS ALONG: Today will be the 23rd consecutive day with no measurable rain in Birmingham (based on data from the airport), and not a drop of rain has fallen during the month of October so far. Drought conditions will worsen in coming days with a very dry pattern continuing.
FYI… the record is 52 consecutive days with no rain, set in 1924. We note that year the total for October in Birmingham was 0.00″.
We now have a “Fire Alert” issued by the Alabama Forestry Commission for 46 North and Central Alabama counties…
“The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has upgraded the Fire Danger Warning, issuing a Fire Alert for 46 counties in north Alabama effective immediately. This order for Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston counties was issued today by the AFC. While under a Fire Alert, burn permits will be issued at the discretion of the State Forester.”
TODAY/TOMORROW: Sunny pleasant days, fair nights. The high will be close to 80, early morning lows 45-55.
THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Afternoons turn warmer with mid 80s; lows in the 50s. The sky will remain sunny.
THE WEEKEND: We will call it partly to mostly sunny Saturday and Sunday with highs between 79 and 83. We might consider a slight risk of a shower for the Tennessee Valley of far North Alabama, but the odds are so low we just won’t mention it in the forecast now.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: Clear for the high school games Friday night with temperatures falling from the low 70s at kickoff into the mid 60s by the fourth quarter.
Alabama will play at Tennessee in Knoxville Saturday afternoon (2:30p CT kickoff)… expect a cloudy periods with a few scattered showers possible. About 76 at kickoff, falling to near 70 by the final whistle.
Auburn has the week off.
NEXT WEEK: Still not much hope any any significant rain, at least early in the week. Some evidence the upper ridge (that has been deflecting the rain systems away from Alabama) might weaken toward the end of the week, but way too early to know if that actually happens. Highs will be mostly in the low 80s with lows in the low 60s. Unfortunately the GFS doesn’t give much hope for a big rain event around here for the next ten days.
AT THE BEACH: Sunny days, fair nights on the Gulf Coast from Panama City Beach over to Gulf Shores with highs in the 80s. See a very detailed Gulf Coast forecast here.
TROPICS: Nicole should become a hurricane within the next 24 hours, and will pass very close to Bermuda Thursday. Then, it kicks out to sea, and it is no threat to the U.S. The rest of the Atlantic basin is very quiet.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40.
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I have a weather program today at Good Hope Elementary School in Cullman County… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 4:00 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!
Category: Alabama's Weather
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James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.Subscribe
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