Mild Afternoons, Chilly Nights

COLD MARCH MORNING: As expected, colder pockets have dropped down into the 30s across Alabama this morning. Here are some tempearures just before daybreak…

Cullman 34
Haleyville 35
Pell City 37
Decatur 37
Muscle Shoals 38
Huntsville 39
Sylacauga 40
Birmingham 42

Today will feature a very nice warm-up; expect ample sunshine with a high around 70 degrees. Tomorrow will be sunny with a high in the low 70s, then we reach the mid 70s Friday with a partly sunny sky.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Most of the day Saturday looks dry and mild, although clouds will increase by afternoon. The high will be in the mid 70s. Then, ahead of a cold front, a band of showers and thunderstorms will arrive Saturday night, ending early Sunday. The window for showers and storms, for now, is from 6:00 p.m. Saturday though 6:00 a.m. Sunday. The chance of severe weather looks low, and rain amounts should be under 1/2 inch. The sky becomes partly sunny Sunday, and the day will be breezy and cooler with a high close to 60.

NEXT WEEK: We will continue to side the the drier European global model and forecast rain-free weather for most of the week. Highs in the 60s Monday and Tuesday, then back in the 70s Wednesday through Friday. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.

ON THIS DATE IN 1994: This is the 25th anniversary of the EF-4 tornado that killed 20 people in the Goshen United Methodist Church during the Palm Sunday worship service on March 27, 1994. A total of 92 were injured. A warning was issued 12 minutes before the tornado destroyed the church building, but unfortunately they never heard the warning.The deaths at the church brought to light the deficiencies in the NOAA Weather Radio network across the United States at the time, and the lack of NOAA Weather Radio use in many public spaces. We have come a long way since then, but we have much work to do. Every home, business, church, and public place must have a way of hearing warnings.

Later in the day, an EF-2 tornado tore through Shelby County; it began on the north side of Helena on the Bearden Farm moving northeastward crossing Alabama 261 near Pelham High School. The school suffered some damage. Continuing northeast, the tornado caused damage in a residential section before doing extensive damage to two mobile home parks on the west side of U. S. Highway 31 on the north side of Pelham. The tornado did extensive to businesses in the stretch from the U. S. 31/Alabama 119 intersection to the Alabama 119/Interstate 65 intersection. The tornado continued on its track going through primarily residential areas of Pelham and Indian Springs. The tornado dissipated just before reaching the Meadow Brook area about two miles west of U. S. Highway 280.

SPOTTER TRAINING: Our annual storm spotter training is tomorrow evening at the Pelham Civic Complex. Doors open at 5:00, training begins at 6:30. No fee, no need to register. Just show up with a curious mind! You will help us make the severe weather warning process more efficient, and you will never look at a storm the same again. Hope to see you there.

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN FOR INDYCAR AT BARBER: The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will be April 5-7 at the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park! Make plans for the event that has been voted “Best Annual Event” & “Best Sporting Event” in Birmingham. Kids 15 & under are admitted free with a ticketed adult, and three-day general admission tickets are $69. Single day tickets are as low as $15. Pack a picnic/cooler and bring the family out for a weekend full of activities and racing! For tickets, CLICK HERE.

BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.

WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute show anytime on your favorite podcast app. 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 this morning for a pre-school group in Clay… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 4:00 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!

Tags: ANC, sunny

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos