Rain Returns Over The Weekend

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THIS AFTERNOON: Broken clouds are seen over Alabama up at about 20,000 feet, with the Birmingham Airport showing a 2:00 temperature of 51 degrees, 5 degrees below our forecast high of 56. We have a little virga showing up on radar, and that evaporation process is keeping the temperature down a bit. But, 51 sure feels good compared to the Arctic cold we lived with for the first 12 days of the year.

TOMORROW AND THE WEEKEND: If you believe the models, we will wind up somewhere between 58 and 61 degrees tomorrow with a mix of sun and clouds, and that looks good from here. Then comes the rain for the weekend.

Not much change in the overall thinking for the weekend system. Rain should move into the central part of the state during the midday hours Saturday, becoming widespread later in the day and through Saturday night. Rain amounts of 1 to 2 inches can be expected around here before it ends early Sunday morning. No severe weather, and probably no thunder. Just old fashioned rain.

The clouds will most likely linger through the day Sunday with a high not far from the 50 degree mark. Then, clearing will take place Sunday night as the system lifts away from Alabama and dry air takes over.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND: Dry and pleasant weather is likely on Monday and Tuesday of next week with ample sunshine and a high in the 50s. Clouds return Wednesday, and another wet weather system arrives Thursday. Looks like this one will bring potential of another 1 to 2 inches of rain.

The “beyond” part of the forecast is a bit challenging; no doubt very cold Arctic air will try to make a run at us from the north. Watch the Weather Xtreme video and you will see the Arctic Oscillation will trend negative again toward the end of the month, but not a super strong negative spike like we had at the end of December. One way or another I do think we turn sharply colder toward the end of January.

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I had a great time today seeing the kids at Irondale Middle School (the 6th graders)… be looking for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. The next Weather Extreme video will be posted here by 7:00 a.m….

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