Warmer Days Ahead; Rain By Thursday Night/Friday

COLD START: Here are some temperatures across Alabama just before sunrise this morning…

Haleyville 23
Gadsden 25
Fort Payne 25
Hueytown 26
Decatur 27
Bessemer 27
Cullman 27
Trussville 27
Pell City 27
Jasper 27
Heflin 28
Chelsea 28
Good Hope 28
Anniston 29
Albertville 30
Muscle Shoals 30
Birmingham 31
Tuscaloosa 31
Huntsville 32
Demopolis 32
Greenville 33
Montgomery 36
Dothan 37
Mobile 39

Today will be sunny with a high between 57 and 64 degrees. Tonight will be clear and not as cold as last night, but some of the colder pockets across North/Central Alabama could be close to freezing by daybreak tomorrow. Then, a warming trend begins tomorrow afternoon with a high in the low 70s for most places.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: The day Thursday will be dry, but clouds will increase, and rain returns to Alabama late Thursday night and Friday as a surface low passes near the Gulf Coast. There could be some thunder, but there is no risk of severe storms, and rain amounts will be in the 1/2 to 1 inch range. Friday’s high will be in the low to mid 60s.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Rain will move out of the state Friday night, and the weekend will be dry. The sky becomes sunny Saturday with a high in the mid to upper 60s. Sunday will be another sunny day with a high in the 70-75 degree range. Mornings will be cool with lows in the 40s. Colder pockets will dip into the mid to upper 30s early Sunday morning.

NEXT WEEK: Monday will be dry with a high in the low to mid 70s… then rain returns to the state by Tuesday and Wednesday. A few thunderstorms could be involved; still too early know if they could be strong or severe. Thursday and Friday look dry with highs in the low 70s. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

SPRING BEGINS: Today is the first day of spring; the equinox comes tonight at 10:06p CT. At the equinox, Earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally. Night and day are approximately equal in length.

ON THIS DATE IN 1948: An estimated F4 tornado moved through Fosterburg, Bunker Hill, and Gillespie, Illinois, killing 33 people and injuring 449 others. 2,000 buildings in Bunker Hill were damaged or destroyed.

ON THIS DATE IN 2018: An EF-3 tornado tore through the town of Jacksonville, in Calhoun County. The tornado first touched down west of US Highway 431 north of Wellington, where it rapidly intensified and widened. The tornado entered the City of Jacksonville where it gained strength into the EF3 category, with winds around 140 mph. It removed most of the roof and the top floor of two buildings in an apartment complex. The tornado affected most of the campus of Jacksonville State University. Several buildings sustained significant damage. The most intense winds remained north of the campus however, mowing down trees and causing direct damage to homes.

As the tornado crossed Highway 21, it caused caused major damage to the Merrill Building. It then moved into a highly populated zone, where scores of homes suffered major damage and rendered many uninhabitable. The tornado maintained its strength as it crossed Choccolocco Mountain, with winds funneled up the valleys mowing down trees. Despite the damage, there were no fatalities and only one serious injury.

Also on March 19, 2018, very large and destructive hail in Cullman was responsible for major damage to vehicles, homes, and businesses. An Alabama record 5.38″ diameter hailstone confirmed by the NWS.

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

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