Rain Returns Sunday; Much Colder Next Week
DRY, COOL DAY: Most of Alabama is enjoying sunshine in full supply this afternoon with temperatures in the 50s… but clouds are over the Tennessee Valley with 40s there. Tonight will be mostly fair and cold with a low in the 25-35 degree range.
A dynamic weather system will bring rain back into the Deep South beginning Sunday, continuing Sunday night. We note SPC has defined a risk of severe thunderstorms west of Alabama Sunday (over parts of MS/LA/AR/TX), and we could very well have a few strong storms around here Sunday night. But, forecast instability values are very marginal, and the overall risk of severe storms looks low at this point.
NEXT WEEK: Rain ends early Monday, and it looks like temperatures will fall into the 30s during the day over the northern half of Alabama with a brisk north wind. Then, very cold air settles into the Deep South for the next of the week. Highs will be in the 30s over the northern counties, with 40s for South Alabama. Morning lows will be mostly in the 20s, but teens are likely for some North Alabama communities.
Global models continue to hint at a potential surface low forming in the Gulf of Mexico over the latter half of the week. The American GFS global model shows a big snow event for parts of Alabama Thursday night, but the reliable European global model shows very little precipitation, just some light rain for the Florida Panhandle. It remains too early to know if any “winter mischief” will be involved with the cold air late next week.
A reinforcing shot of cold, Arctic air will likely arrive by the following weekend; temperatures will likely remain well below average across the Deep South into mid-January… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
ON THIS DATE IN 1964: Bear Bryant said later that the only thing that could have messed up his eighth ranked Alabama team’s chances in the 1964 Sugar Bowl against 6th ranked Ole Miss in New Orleans would have been if it were to snow.
Well, much to his chagrin, it did snow the night before the January 1st game in the Crescent City. It snowed an amazing 4 ½ inches. Snow was covering the field at Tulane Stadium (site of the game before the Superdome was built) on the morning of January 1, 1964.
The “New Year’s Eve Snow” in the Deep South also dumped an incredible 19.2 inches at Muscle Shoals (still a record for the state of Alabama), 17.1 inches of snow on Huntsville. Much of Northwest Alabama was buried under 15-17 inches of snow. Roofs and awnings collapsed under the weight of the snow. The snow paralyzed much of the area for up to three days, closing schools and businesses.
To the south, 15 inches of snow fell at Meridian, and over 10 inches at Bay. St. Louis MS.
Mobile picked up two inches. Birmingham picked up 8.40 inches of snow, the fifth biggest snowstorm in the city’s history.
Oh, Alabama won the game by a 12-7 margin.
Look for the next video briefing here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos
About the Author (Author Profile)
James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.Subscribe
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