Morning Update

It’s a frequent battle we see play out over Alabama and the south. The Battle of the High Pressure Systems.

In this corner, weighing in at 1024 millibars, over South Florida, we have the Okeechosee Persister. It’s tenacious. In the other corner, weighing in also at 1024 millibars, we have the Nebraska Anticyclone. The two are battling for supremacy right now along a frontal system that stretches from western New York through Kentucky and to along the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas.

In the battle zone, we have showers this morning over much of northern Mississippi. You can see them in the radar/visible satellite image on the left top side of the graphic. Click the image to enlarge it. Those showers are associated with a little upper level disturbance that is sliding along in the southwesterly flow aloft. You can see it in the water vapor satellite image (lower left corner of the graphic) and can make it out in the radar animation. These showers will overspread the Tennessee Valley through mid-afternoon.

Clouds are thick over the Tennessee Valley now, and if you look closely, you can see a few bumps in the visible satellite image that correspond to the taller showers. South of this area, or south of a line from Marion County through southern Jefferson and into East Alabama around Cleburne County, skies are clearing and sunshine is increasing.

Temperatures are in the 50s in the cloudy areas now and will reach the lower to middle 60s today. In the clearing areas, temperatures are edging into the 60s now and will reach the upper 60s to near 70F today. In the sunnier areas to the south, the mercury will rise into the lower and perhaps even middle 70s in spots this afternoon.

Most of the rain will be to the north through this afternoon. Can’t rule out a few showers anywhere, especially with the good heating going on, but for most of Central Alabama, it should be a nice January Saturday!

Bama fans in New Orleans are in pretty much the same boat, just a little warmer. A passing disturbance brought showers to areas south of the city this morning, but sinking air on the back side of the disturbance has allowed sun to break through and a warm, partly cloudy afternoon is expected. More showers were breaking out ahead of another disturbance back over southwestern Louisiana and those showers will affect Southeast Louisiana this evening.

Category: Alabama's Weather