Showers Early Saturday; Strong/Severe Storms Sunday

BLUE SKY: Not a cloud in the sky within at least 300 miles this afternoon. A very dry airmass, a sunny sky, and temperatures not too far from 70 degrees. Tonight will be clear and not as cold as last night; most communities will see a low in the 40s, but colder valleys and protected areas could reach the 30s again.

Tomorrow will be another dry day, with ample sunshine along with a high in the mid 70s. Clouds will increase tomorrow night.

SATURDAY: A surface front will bring a band of showers, and possibly a thunderstorm, very early Saturday morning. Rain amounts should be light, generally under 1/4 inch, and the sky becomes mostly sunny Saturday afternoon with a high close to 70. Clouds increase again Saturday night as the front over far South Alabama begins to lift northward as a warm front.

SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE SUNDAY: A wave of low pressure on the front will move from near Shreveport to somewhere over North Alabama by Sunday night. Unstable air will be pulled northward, and with good upper air support once again the stage will be set for the risk of severe thunderstorms across the state. SPC has defined an enhanced risk of severe storms over roughly the southern half of the state, with the standard risk as far north as U.S. 278 (Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden).

The main window for severe thunderstorms will come from about 3:00 p.m. Sunday through 3:00 a.m. Monday. During that time storms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. A good chance this won’t be as productive as the Easter Sunday system, but is still a significant risk. Rain amounts of 1-2 inches are likely.

NEXT WEEK: Rain ends very early in the day Monday, followed by a clearing sky. Tuesday will be mild and dry with a high in the 70s, and then another robust weather system will bring the threat of strong, possibly severe thunderstorms by Wednesday night and Thursday. Way too early to be specific about this one, of course… we will focus on it once we get past Sunday’s event. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.

LAST FREEZE: Here are some lows across Alabama early this morning… a good chance it will be the last morning with a freeze/frost until sometime in October.

Black Creek 29
Gadsden 31
Haleyville 31
Valley Head 31
Fort Payne 31
Heflin 31
Weaver 32
Hueytown 32
Arley 32
Cottondale 32
Bessemer 32
Pell City 34
Sylacauga 34
Coker 34
Decatur 35
Alexander City 35
Huntsville 36
Northport 37

ON THiS DATE IN 2008: Typhoon Neoguri forms over the South China Sea on the 15th and rapidly intensifying to attain typhoon strength by the 16th, reaching its peak intensity on the 18th with maximum sustained winds near 109 mph. More than 120,000 people are evacuated from Hainan when heavy rains cause flash floods in low-lying areas. Three fatalities are attributed to the storm, though 40 fishermen are reported missing. Neoguri made landfall in China earlier than any other tropical cyclone on record, about two weeks before the previous record set by Typhoon Wanda in 1971.

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