Midday Nowcast: Sunny, Breezy and Turning Colder
GETTING COLDER: We are seeing sunshine in full supply with highs in the low to mid 50s this afternoon. Our winds are increasing out of the northwest at 10-20 mph, and those winds are driving in a reinforcing shot of cold air. Tonight lows will fall into the 20s areawide.
BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For December 20th, the average high for Birmingham is 56° and the average low is 37°. The record high is 74° set in 1978, while the record low is 5° set in 1901. We average 0.16” of precipitation on this date and the record value is 3.32” set in 1951.
WINTER SOLSTICE: Winter officially arrives overnight, as the winter solstice occurs at 3:21AM CST, marking the start of Astronomical Winter. This is the day with the shortest amount of daylight hours and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. Saturday will be less than one second shorter than Friday. The amount of daylight will increase after Saturday, and will continue until the summer solstice in June 2025.
COLD WEEKEND WEATHER: The first weekend of winter will be feeling like winter as the much colder air settles in. Expect highs tomorrow and Sunday only in the 40s for the northern half of Alabama with lows 50s for South Alabama. Overnight lows will be in the 20s for most of Alabama. This air mass will be very dry, so precipitation is not in the forecast. Both Saturday and Sunday will feature abundant sunshine.
CHRISTMAS WEEK: Little change in the forecast for no for next week. We are forecasting a warming trend for the first half of next week and by Christmas Day, highs will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s across Alabama. As far as rain chances, the models continue to show the chance for some light rain on Christmas Day. Showers and possibly a few thunderstorms will likely continue Thursday and Friday, and highs remain in the 60s.
WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 110.1F at Birdsville Airport, Australia. The lowest observation was -60.5F at Summit, Greenland.
CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 88F at Pala, CA. The lowest observation was -22F at Cavalier, ND.
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Macon, Georgia Television Chief Meteorologist, Birmingham native, and long time Contributor on AlabamaWX. Stormchaser. I did not choose Weather, it chose Me. College Football Fanatic. @Ryan_StinnetSubscribe
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