Stratocu Galore! Breezy and Cool Afternoon Ahead for Central Alabama

SATRAD at noon

Skies cleared quickly this morning across Central Alabama behind the cold front and rain area as it exited into Georgia.

But stratocumulus clouds are quickly filling in across the cleared area as the sun heats the ground, heating the lower atmosphere and producing conditional instability due to the colder air aloft.

The visible satellite kind of looks like an elephant’s skin, doesn’t it?

Thicker stratocu clouds are marching in from the west and it will become cloudy again later this afternoon from the west. That sunshine is the only thing propping up the mercury, and temperatures will be dropping back from the lower 50s to the 40s as we go through the later afternoon hours.

We can rule out a patch or two of drizzle or light rain, but it should be of little consequence.

It is breezy out there this afternoon with west and northwest winds averaging 10-15 mph and occasionally gusting to 35 mph. A wind advisory is in effect for the eastern half of Central Alabama, including Birmingham, Gadsden, Anniston, Alex City, Montgomery, and Auburn.

We will drop back in the 30s overnight, but frost shouldn’t be a problem with winds continuing to blow lightly during the night. Clouds should depart overnight and tomorrow looks like a mostly sunny day with just a few stratocumulus clouds again.

Highs will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s tomorrow. There could be a little frost Mondy night in colder locations as temperatures once again reach the 30s, mainly in areas northeast of I-22/US-280. Low 40s should prevail over West Central Alabama.

The rest of the week looks beautiful with just a small chance of rain early Thursday. Highs Tuesday and beyond into the weekend will be in the 70s!

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS