Cool, Dry Weather Today; Severe Storms Possible Thursday

COOL MONDAY: Temperatures are mostly in the 20s across Alabama early this morning with a clear sky… we reach the mid-50s later today with sunshine in full supply. The average high for Birmingham on February 14 is 59.

Dry weather continues tomorrow and Wednesday with a warming trend. The high tomorrow will be in the mid-60s, followed by upper-60s Wednesday. A few scattered clouds will show up Wednesday, otherwise we are forecasting a good supply of sunshine on both days.

SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE THURSDAY: A dynamic weather system will bring the threat of strong to severe thunderstorms to Alabama Thursday. Shear and instability values look favorable, but the main upper air support will be lifting north of the region by mid to late afternoon, meaning the higher severe weather probabilities will be over Mississippi and the western half of Alabama. SPC has much of the state in a severe weather risk Thursday.

For now, it looks like all modes of severe weather will be possible, including strong straight-line winds, hail, and a few tornadoes. We should also note that pressure gradient winds (not related to thunderstorms) will be in the 15-25 mph range Thursday with higher gusts. Rain amounts will likely be at or a little over one inch for most of the state, but widespread flooding issues are not expected. The main window for the heavier storms will come during the afternoon and evening hours. We will be much more specific about the threat tomorrow.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: The sky becomes mostly sunny Friday, and the day will be cooler with a high in the low 50s. Dry weather continues over the weekend for most of Alabama with mostly sunny days and fair nights; the high Saturday will be in the upper-50s, followed by low-60s Sunday. Clouds will linger near the immediate Gulf Coast with some scattered light rain possible over the weekend.

NEXT WEEK: The warming trend continues; the high will be in the 60s Monday, low 70s Tuesday, and mid-70s Wednesday. The next weather system will bring a chance of rain and thunderstorms by Wednesday or Thursday… See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.

ON THIS DATE IN 1895: The most significant snowfall in the history of Houston, Texas, occurred on the 14th and 15th. The Houston area saw 20 inches of snow.

ON THIS DATE IN 1958: Snow lovers got a special gift as the heaviest snowfall since 1948 blanketed Birmingham with over two inches of snow. Roads in the Magic City quickly became snow-packed and impassable. Roads between Birmingham and Atlanta were especially dangerous. The northwest corner of Alabama was blanketed with 3-6 inches of snow. Six to eight inches fell in Decatur. At the Birmingham Municipal Airport, A Delta Airlines DC-7 slid off the runway the following morning and buried itself nose deep in slush and mud when the nosewheel broke. None of the 43 passengers were injured.

ON THIS DATE IN 2021: Freezing rain and some snow brought dangerous travel continues to Northwest Alabama; it was the beginning of a five-day stretch of very cold and unsettled weather; there were multiple rounds of snow and wintry precipitation over the northern half of Alabama through February 17.

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

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Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!

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