Cold Night Ahead

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COOL LATE OCTOBER DAY: Temperatures are generally below guidance at 2:00… some observations include 59 at Cullman and Russellville, 60 at Haleyville, 63 at Gadsden and Gadsden, and 64 at Birmingham. No change in our thinking tonight; we will drop into the upper 30s in most places early tomorrow with some frost likely, and the colder valleys have a great chance of seeing freezing temperatures.

SLOW WARM-UP OVER THE WEEKEND: Sunny weather continues tomorrow and Sunday, with a high in the low 70s tomorrow and mid 70s Sunday. The air stays dry, the humidity low, and the fall colors should come alive thanks to the recent rain and the cool nights.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: You will need a jacket for the high school games tonight. With a clear sky temperatures will fall quickly through the 50s, reaching the 40s by the final whistle. The annual Magic City Classic game at Legion Field tomorrow between Alabama State and Alabama A&M will have perfect weather with all sunshine and about 72 at kickoff. It should drop to the 60s late in the game. Auburn will be visiting Oxford for a late afternoon kickoff Saturday with Ole Miss with a kickoff at 5:00 p.m. It will be clear with near 70 at kickoff and about 55 in the fourth quarter. UAB will be in Hattiesburg to play Southern Miss at 11:00 a.m. It should be a peak temperature of about 76 during the game.

AT THE SPEEDWAY: Look for a cloudless sky tomorrow and Sunday with highs in the 71 to 74 degree range. If you are camping at the track, be ready for some chilly mornings! Frost is possible Saturday morning around northern Talladega County; temperatures will fall into the lower and middle 30s for several hours tonight into the early morning hours. Otherwise, it will be perfect for being outdoors!

NEXT WEEK: Monday still looks dry, and we will bring in a chance of showers on Tuesday with an upper low developing to the west of Alabama. The new run of the GFS confirms the trend we saw last night, and it looks like much of Alabama will be dry on Wednesday and Thursday as the ULL drifts to the southwest away from us. Cooler air slips in by the end of the week with a northerly low level flow.

FIRE ALERT STILL IN EFFECT: From the Alabama Forestry Commission… Although rainfall amounts the past few days ranged from .01” to 4” inches across Alabama, it was not enough to warrant the Alabama Forestry Commission lifting the existing Fire Alert. According to State Forester Linda Casey, rainfall amounts should hold the fire situation down for approximately 24 to 36 hours unless additional rain is received. This reprieve allows firefighters much needed rest as well as an opportunity to perform equipment repairs and maintenance. The drought situation that has plagued the entire state over the past few months prompted the Alabama Forestry Commission to place all 67 counties under a Fire Alert on September 23, 2010. In the last 30 days the state has battled 787 wildfires that have burned approximately 8,049 acres. In this calendar year 2,695 fires have burned around 32,437 acres. Debris burning and illegal residential trash burning continue to be the leading causes of wildfires. The Commission strongly recommends that citizens postpone all outdoor burning until conditions have changed sufficiently to reduce the frequency and severity of wildfires. The Fire Alert will remain in effect until rescinded by the State Forester.

TROPICS: Tropical Storm Shary will pass over Bermuda tonight on the way into the open North Atlantic, and is no threat to the U.S. mainland. A well organized tropical wave is approaching the Windward Islands, and should become Tropical Storm Tomas (no “H”) soon, if not tonight. This storm could become a hurricane across the Caribbean, but is expected to turn north, and then northeast before reaching the Gulf of Mexico or the U.S. mainland.

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I had a great time today visiting with the 3rd graders at Englewood Elementary in Tuscaloosa… be looking for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. Brian Peters will have the video updates tomorrow and Sunday…. my next Weather Xtreme video will be posted bright and early Monday morning by 7:00. Enjoy the weekend!

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