Slow Warm-Up; Rain By Saturday

COLD WINTER MORNING: Temperatures are generally in the 25-32 degree range across the northern half of Alabama this morning with a clear sky. The weather will stay dry today; expect a partly sunny sky with a high around 50 degrees this afternoon.

Tonight won’t be as cold as recent nights; the sky becomes mostly cloudy, and most communities will stay above freezing. Then, tomorrow, we reach the mid 50s by afternoon as the slow warming trend continues. We will mention the risk of a little scattered light rain tomorrow night, but models have trended drier, and rain, if any, will be pretty light and spotty.

FRIDAY: This could be the warmest day out of the next seven; afternoon temperatures should reach the low 60s. The sky will remain mostly cloudy, but the day should be generally dry.

RAIN RETURNS: The weekend will start off wet. A surface low will pass north of the state, and rain should move in during the morning hours, becoming fairly widespread by afternoon. Temperatures will rise to near 60 degrees, and a little thunder is possible in this setup, but no severe weather, and no flooding concerns. Rain amounts of around 1/2 inch are likely by Saturday night.

Then, Sunday looks like a rather chilly, raw day with a cloudy sky, temperatures falling through the 40s, and a little light rain or drizzle.

NEXT WEEK: A new surge of cold air settles in; looks like it could very well be the coldest air so far this season. We will struggle to get out of the 30s Monday, and highs will be in the 40s each day for the rest of the week for most communities. The week looks generally dry, although the European model (ECMWF) shows a wave with some potential for light rain over the southern half of the state Thursday. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Saturday, Jacksonville State plays North Dakota State for the FCS National Championship Saturday in Frisco, Texas (north of Dallas; 11:00a CT kickoff). Expect a mix of sun and clouds; just a small risk of a shower during the game. Temperatures will rise from 42 degrees at kickoff, to near 45 by the final whistle.

The FBS National Championship game, Alabama vs Clemson, is Monday at Glendale, Arizona (7:30p CT kickoff). Despite a good bit of rain for Phoenix this week, the weather looks cool and dry for the game with temperatures falling from the low 50s at kickoff, into the upper 40s by the second half. The stadium has a roof, but it will be pretty chilly walking to and from your transportation.

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 have a weather program this morning at Elvin Hill Elementary in Columbiana… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 4:00 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!

Tags: ANC, cold

Category: Alabama's Weather