Midday Nowcast: Sunshine and Blue Sky Across Alabama Today; Rain Returns Tomorrow Night

SUNSHINE IN FULL SUPPLY: Blue sky and sunshine fill the Alabama sky on this President’s Day holiday. After the frosty start to the day, we are seeing temperatures this afternoon range from the upper 40s to lower 50s; nearly ten degrees below average for this time of year. Tonight will be another cold night with temperatures falling below freezing with 20s and 30s widespread.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For February 17th, the average high for Birmingham is 60° and the average low is 39°. The record high is 79° set in 1976, while the record low is 3° set in 1958. We average 0.18” of precipitation on this date and the record value is 1.84” set in 2022.

RAIN AND COLDER AIR ON THE WAY: A Gulf low will develop tomorrow and will send clouds northward across Alabama, highs tomorrow will be in the low to mid 50s. Tomorrow night, a cold rain will move into Alabama and will continue into Wednesday morning. For Central Alabama, rainfall amounts will be less than one half inch with temperatures in the mid and upper 30s.

However, precipitation over the northern quarter of the state will be a “wintry mix” of some light snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The area of greatest concern will be along and north of U.S. 278 (north of a line from Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden). Temperatures there in the 28-32 degree range at daybreak Wednesday, some light icing is possible mainly on bridges. Best chance of some light snow accumulation (1/2 inch or less) is north of the Tennessee River.

The rain will end by midday Wednesday and as the low departs, it will pull down a surge of very cold Arctic air into the Deep South Wednesday night. Temperatures will drop into the teens over North Alabama Thursday and Friday mornings, and a freeze is likely down to the Gulf Coast both mornings. The air will be dry and the sky will be mostly sunny. Highs Thursday will be in the 30s while we should see lower 40s on Friday.

WARMING TREND: Over the weekend, the warming trend begins with highs returning to the 50s Saturday and Sunday; lows will be in the upper 20s and lower 30s. For now, both days look to feature plenty of sunshine, with those clear and cold nights. The warm-up continues into next week and temperatures will reach 70 degrees for much of Alabama by Wednesday. Some light rain is possible with a surface front Wednesday night or Thursday, but there is no risk of severe storms.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 105.8F at Mango, Togo. The lowest observation was -71.3F at Vostok, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 90F at Atlantis, FL. The lowest observation was -41F at Poplar, MT.

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