Warmer Today; Much Cooler Sunday
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TO THE NORTH: The first big snow of the season is underway this morning over parts of North Dakota and Minnesota; Hallock, MN reports visibility down to 1 mile in snow early this morning with 34 degrees. A winter storm warning is in effect for this region.
Down this way, we do have some fog in spots, but it is not as widespread as yesterday, and the day should be mostly sunny with a high in the low 80s. Pretty much the same story tomorrow; a good supply of sunshine with a high in the 80 to 84 degree range.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Saturday will be partly to mostly sunny and warm with a high not too far from 80. Then, the front to the north moves through Saturday night with only a slim risk of a shower due to limited moisture. If any showers do show up on the front, they should come from about 6:00 p.m. Saturday through 6:00 a.m. Sunday, and the chance of any one spot getting wet is only in the 10-20 percent range.
Sunday will be much cooler; despite a mostly sunny sky by afternoon temperatures will struggle to reach the low to mid 60s with a cool north breeze. And, by daybreak Monday most Alabama communities will wind up in the 37 to 44 degree range, our coldest morning so far this season.
Most of next week looks delightful with sunny pleasant days and clear chilly nights. A fresh surge of cool, dry air should arrive by Thursday.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: The sky will be mostly clear for high school football games across Alabama tonight and tomorrow night with temperatures falling from the 70s at kickoff into the 60s by the second half. Saturday, Auburn will host Arkansas at Jordan-Hare Stadium (11:00 a.m. kickoff); the sky will be partly to mostly sunny with temperatures rising from 78 degrees at kickoff into the low 80s by the second half. UAB will host Southeast Louisiana Saturday at 2:00 at Legion Field; the sky will be partly sunny with a kickoff temperature near 81 degrees; the mercury will fall into the 70s by the fourth quarter. And, that forecast works for the Samford/The Citadel game Saturday, which also kicks off at 2:00.
TROPICS: Tropical Storm Oscar has formed in the middle of the Atlantic, but it is moving north/northeast and is no threat to the U.S. Tropical Storm Nadine is still hanging around in the East Atlantic, and will finally become post-tropical later today. It is the 6th longest lasting tropical system on record in the Atlantic.
ON THIS DATE IN 1995: Hurricane Opal was a worst case scenario for weather forecasters. In the eighteen hours before its landfall just east of Pensacola FL, Opal went from a Category 2 Hurricane, to a strong Category 4 Hurricane, back to a Category 2 just before landfall. At 4:45 a.m. CDT, Air Force Reconnaissance reported an alarming central pressure of 916 mb and winds were estimated at a devastating 150 mph, making the storm the strongest of record in the Atlantic in October. The storm had rapidly intensified that morning, dropping from 951 to 916 mb in just 9 hours. At this time Opal was 250 nautical miles south-southwest of Pensacola, Florida. Fortunately, Opal could not maintain peak intensity as the inner eyewall collapsed within a few hours. The maximum sustained winds were 115 mph near the center of the storm. Mary Esther FL record sustained winds of 80 mph with a questionable wind gust to 144 mph. Although winds were diminishing at the time of landfall, extensive damage due to a storm surge of 15 feet and breaking waves occurred over most of the coastal areas of the Florida panhandle. The estimated U.S. death toll from direct causes is 9. Total damage was $3 billion. Researchers believe that Opal moved over a warm water eddy over the Gulf of Mexico which had broken off from the Gulf Stream. Water in the eddy was a degree or two warmer than in the surrounding area, allowing the storm to strengthen rapidly.
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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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