Warm December Day
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LOOKING FOR LOW 70s: Winter doesn’t official arrive until December 21 at 11:30 p.m… but the weather today will feel more like spring. With a partly sunny sky, temperatures should soar into the low 70s across North-Central Alabama this afternoon, well above the average high of 56, and not too far from the December 14 record high of 77 degrees set back in 1971. Get out and enjoy.
TO THE WEST: The big storm system over the Southwest U.S. will begin to lift out today, and could bring strong to possibly severe thunderstorms to parts of Texas this afternoon and tonight. The primary part upper support will pass well north of Alabama, heading toward the Great Lakes and eastern Canada; we will simply be dealing with the trailing cold front.
Tomorrow will be warm again with a high around 70, but clouds will increase ahead of the next system, and a few showers could show up by afternoon. The primary rain event will come tomorrow night into Friday; no severe weather and probably not much thunder. The 00Z NAM is printing only 0.10″ of rain for Birmingham, the GFS is at 0.39″ and is probably closer to the truth. Bottom line is that is looks like rain amounts will be 1/2 inch or less around here, with heavier totals possible up near the Tennessee border. The rain will move out Friday night as cooler and drier air eases into the state from the north.
COOLER WEEKEND: The sky will become mostly sunny Saturday, and the day will be cooler with a high in the upper 50s. Sunny weather continues Sunday; we begin the day with a low near freezing, but rise into the low 60s Sunday afternoon.
CHRISTMAS WEEK: Watch the Weather Xtreme video for a day by day breakdown… rain is likely Tuesday into Wednesday morning, and the GFS continues the idea of much colder air reaching Alabama on Christmas Eve, followed by a cool and dry Christmas Day. We caution you there is no real skill in a specific forecast beyond seven days, these are just ideas now. We won’t be able to be really specific about Christmas weekend until a few days from now.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40.
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I will be doing a weather program today at Glencoe Middle School in Etowah County… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so this afternoon. Enjoy the day!
Category: Alabama's Weather
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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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