Monday Monday Weather Briefing Video: All I Want For Christmas is a Little Warm Air…

That sounds kinda Scroogish, doesn’t it? Well, I am not against some snow, for sure, but since none is in sight, I would take a little warmer weather. And believe it or not, we are in a slow warming trend.

BRIGHT START TO THE HOLIDAY WEEK

North and Central Alabama will enjoy a bright and mild start to the holiday week as high pressure remains firmly in control across the area. Monday will bring mostly sunny skies, with temperatures gradually moderating. Morning lows will remain cold, dipping into the upper 20s to lower 30s, but afternoons will feature highs climbing into the 50s areawide for your Monday. Southeast winds will signal a transition to milder air, setting the stage for the midweek.

CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SHOWERS

Christmas Eve will see mostly sunny skies for much of the day, though a few high clouds could reach the northwest corner of the state by the afternoon. Most areas will remain dry until around midnight, when a stray shower could pop up as moisture begins to increase. Highs on Tuesday will be in teh 50s Northeast and 60s Southwest. On Christmas Day, expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers at times. Rainfall will be light, around 0.20 inches, and while it won’t disrupt most plans, it’s a good idea to have an umbrella handy. Morning lows on Christmas will be near 41 degrees, with afternoon highs reaching around 60 degrees under gentle southeast breezes. Highs on Christmas Day will be about like those of Tuesday, ranging from 52-57F across the Tennessee Valley, to 60-63F across North Central Alabama, to 65-66F in the US-80 Corridor.

MODEL INFIGHTING
The GFS is putting all its chips in the middle on the idea of an easterly wedge and stronger high pressure to the east. In fact, the 18z GFS run kept Alabama completely dry on Christmas. The Euro is doing the same. That means we may be taking rain chances out of the forecast for Wednesday. Woohoo! But more issues by Friday…

MIDWEEK TRANSITION AND EARLY WEEKEND WEDGE
By Thursday, a few lingering showers may greet the morning, but skies should begin to clear gradually throughout the day. Temperatures will remain mild, with highs near 62 degrees. As we head into Friday, cooler air could creep into eastern parts of Alabama due to an easterly wedge of high pressure. This will bring thicker clouds and keep highs in the lower 60s, with the coolest conditions east of I-65. Late Friday night, light showers may begin to develop in the northwest as the next system approaches.

EURO SAYS NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND
The European is depicting rain for Friday now. We will ignore that for the time being, but will have to evaluate that call as we go through the next couple of forecast packages.

ACTIVE WEATHER INTO THE WEEKEND
The weekend turns more unsettled as a robust system brings increasing chances of rain and thunderstorms. Saturday will be mostly cloudy, breezy, and mild, with highs in the mid-60s. Showers and storms are likely to arrive late Saturday night into Sunday morning. Rain could be heavy at times, with totals potentially reaching 1.25 inches. While there’s a marginal risk for strong storms, details remain uncertain. Morning lows will stay in the mid-50s, with highs on Sunday near 66 degrees. Winds will be gusty, shifting from the southeast to the west as the system moves through.

LOOKING AHEAD
The mild and active weather pattern will continue as we head toward the final days of December. While temperatures are expected to remain above seasonal averages, additional storm systems could develop, keeping the weather dynamic. Stay tuned for updates throughout the week, especially regarding any late-week or weekend storms that could bring heavier rainfall or stronger thunderstorms. For now, enjoy the festive season and safe travels!

RAINFALL AMOUNTS
The models are overall predicting drier than normal conditions for the next two weeks. That’s not encouraging. Here are 16 day anomalies off the GFS. Cone on Arkansas, can we borrow a cup of rain?

BEACH FORECAST
The beautiful beaches of Alabama and Northwest Florida will see plenty of sunshine to start the holiday week, with temperatures gradually warming from the upper 50s today to the mid-60s by Tuesday. Rip current risks remain low, and surf heights will stay around 1 to 2 feet. On Christmas Day, partly sunny skies and highs in the upper 60s will be accompanied by a chance of showers, though rainfall amounts should be light and scattered. Water temperatures are in the upper 50s, so while it may be chilly for a swim, the serene weather is perfect for a stroll along the shoreline or enjoying festive holiday activities by the coast.

WEATHERBRAINS
The current WeatherBrains podcast is a home-grown special featuring our regular panelists. There’s something cozy about gathering around the wooden mahogany table for a lively and engaging discussion. As always, the conversation is spirited and insightful, and we’re thrilled to have you join us for this week’s brand-new episode of WeatherBrains! Get it wherever you get your podcasts.

TODAY IN WEATHER HISTORY
In the early hours of Sunday, December 23, 1956, just two days before Christmas, a family of four small tornadoes carved a remarkable 121.7-mile path across South Central Alabama. The tornadoes struck Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Lowndes, Montgomery, Elmore, and Tallapoosa counties, beginning in Excel and skipping through Burnt Corn, Searcy, Fort Deposit, Pintlala, Snowdoun, and Mt. Meigs before lifting near Reeltown.

Significant damage was reported along the path. In Excel, two homes and an auto repair shop were destroyed, with two residents rescued from the rubble. Burnt Corn experienced extensive damage to several homes. In Fort Deposit, a house and the bleachers at the high school football stadium were heavily damaged. The most severe destruction occurred in Mt. Meigs, where four homes were completely destroyed, hundreds of trees were uprooted, and Christmas decorations from a home were found scattered among the wreckage. The Associated Press captured the poignancy of the event, noting, “Neatly wrapped Christmas presents were scattered for hundreds of feet, and a decorated Christmas tree was found among the wreckage at Mt. Meigs.” Rated as an F2 by Tom Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes, the Mt. Meigs tornado was the strongest of the day. This outbreak served as a somber reminder that tornadoes do not take holidays off in Alabama.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS