Frigid Night Ahead; Warmer Next Week
COLD DECEMBER DAY: Temperatures are generally below forecast this afternoon; in fact a few North Alabama communities are only in the upper 30s…
Tonight will be clear and cold; most places will see a low in the 25-29 degree range early tomorrow; colder spots will be closer to 20 degrees.
THE WEEKEND: Sunny weather continues both days; the high tomorrow will be in the mid 50s, followed by upper 50s Sunday. Expect another freeze early Sunday morning with a low close to 30 degrees.
NEXT WEEK: Moist air flows into the state Monday, and showers are possible by afternoon. Then, expect occasional showers and thunderstorms Tuesday and Wednesday with highs well up in the 60s. We will continue to monitor the setup for Wednesday when strong storms will be possible thanks to unstable air and a deep upper trough to the west. It remains to be seen if severe storms will form; just a possibility for now.
The American global model (the GFS) hints the showers will exit the state Thursday, followed by drier and cooler air on Christmas Day (Friday). In fact, the 12Z GFS is printing a high of 51 for Birmingham Friday. However, the European model (the ECMWF) gives a totally different look, with mild and showery weather for Christmas Day along with a high well up in the 60s. Needless to say, confidence in a specific forecast for the next of next week is low; we should have better clarity by Sunday and Monday. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.
WHITE CHRISTMAS: Best chance of snow on the ground this year will be north of a line from Green Bay, Wisconsin to Albuquerque, New Mexico….
FOOTBALL WEATHER: Jacksonville State will host Sam Houston State in the semifinals of the FCS playoff Saturday at Burgess Snow Stadium (3:00p CT kickoff)… perfect football weather is the story with a clear and cool day. Temperatures will fall from near 53 degrees at kickoff, to about 43 by the final whistle.
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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Look for my next Weather Xtreme video here Monday morning by 7:00 a.m… Brian Peters will have the video updates tomorrow and Sunday. Enjoy the weekend!
Category: Alabama's Weather
About the Author (Author Profile)
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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