Big Time Cold Air Shot Later This Week

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ICY SPOTS THIS MORNING: The immediate problem this morning is freezing fog across North Alabama… this is simply fog with surface temperatures colder than 32 degrees. This moisture has resulted in icy spots on bridges and overpasses, and some traffic accidents have been reported in the Birmingham metro within the hour. So, let’s all be careful out there on the drive in this morning and take it slow and steady on the bridges.

TODAY/TOMORROW: Once the fog burns off, today should be mostly sunny with a high not too far from 50. Don’t be surprised if we hold in the 40s all day… remember that the MOS products are going to have a very hard time this week and won’t be especially helpful.

A cold front blows through here tomorrow morning; clouds will increase tonight, and a few scattered snow flurries are possible tomorrow morning, but the air will be very dry and the flurries won’t be a big deal. Colder air invades the state, and the high tomorrow will be most likely in the 40 to 45 degree range. Don’t be surprised if some places north of Birmingham stay in the 30s all day. The MOS forecast highs in the low 50s tomorrow are laughable.

Wednesday will remain dry and cool with a decent amount of sun and a high in the 40s.

ARCTIC SHOT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY: These two days will offer some of the coldest weather we have seen in years. I am not sure we get above the freezing mark Thursday, and wind chill index values will drop to near zero at times during the day. A few morning flurries are possible, but the day will be generally dry. For those that work outside for a long period of time, this type of cold can be dangerous.

The bottom should drop out Friday morning with a clear sky and diminishing wind. We figure most places will be somewhere between 10 and 15 degrees, with the colder valleys across North Alabama in the 4 to 9 degree range. It is very unusual to have this kind of cold with no snow cover. But, this is pipe bursting weather, so be sure and go through all cold wave precautions this week. And, be sure elderly people you know that don’t read weather blogs are aware of the cold and have adequate heat. Pets don’t like the cold either.

Friday will remain cold but not as harsh with a light wind; the high on Friday will be in the mid 30s with a sunny sky.

SUNDAY NIGHT MISCHIEF? A slow moderating trend begins over the weekend. Saturday will be dry, but a short wave brings a shot of precipitation across Alabama Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. It remains to be seen if this will be only rain, or perhaps some mix of freezing rain or snow. One way or another it doesn’t look like a major storm at this point, and it is too early to call. Let’s wait on a few more runs before we make a specific forecast.

VOODOO LAND: The NAO flips positive next week, and a gradual moderating trend is likely for the rest of January. Don’t be surprised to see a negative flip at some point in February as very cold air remains over most of the northern hemisphere; this has been a winter to remember for many nations. Arctic sea ice has increased rapidly; and is back to levels seen in 1979.

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I will be out at Oak Mountain Elementary School this morning… then into the office and the afternoon Weather Xtreme video should be posted by 3:30 or so. Enjoy the day!

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