BLUE SKY: Not a cloud in the sky across Alabama this afternoon; temperatures are in the 50s over the northern half of the state, with 60s to the south. Colder air drops into the state tonight, and most places will be in the 24-34 degree range by daybreak tomorrow.
COLD AIR SO FAR: A sharp, well defined cold front is near the northwest corner of Alabama just before daybreak. It will move through the state today, setting the stage for falling temperatures over the northern half of the state with a very cool north wind. Temperatures will be in the 40s over the northern third of the state by mid afternoon, while South Alabama is close to 80.
RADAR CHECK: Patches of light rain continue across Alabama this afternoon, mainly over the eastern half of the state, ahead of a sharp cold front. Light rain ends this evening, and the sky will clear late tonight as we experience a major airmass change.
RADAR CHECK: Rain is fairly widespread across Alabama this afternoon as a cold front continues to roll through the state. Stronger thunderstorms are pushing through the far southern counties and into the Florida Panhandle. Heavier storms there will be produce strong gusty winds and lots of lightning as they move through.
LATE SEASON FREEZE: Drier, colder air is over Alabama this morning… the sky will be partly to mostly sunny today with a high between 55 and 65 degrees. A freeze warning is in effect for much of North and Central Alabama for tonight and tomorrow night as temperatures drop into the 25-35 degree range.
RADAR CHECK: Rain continues just before daybreak in areas easy and south of Birmingham… that rain will be ending soon, and we expect clearing from northwest to southeast this morning. Most communities will be under a sunny sky this afternoon, but the day will be breezy and sharply colder with highs in the 40s over the northern third of the state.
THIS MORNING: A cold front bisects Alabama early this morning… temperatures are in the 30s and 40s north of the front, mild air is south of front with 60s across much of Southeast Alabama. Some light rain and drizzle continues in the cold air north of the front, and a winter weather advisory remains in effect for Colbert, Lauderdale, and Limestone counties. Thankfully temperatures there are generally a degree or two above freezing
BIG SPREAD: As advertised, there is a huge range of temperatures across Alabama this afternoon. At 2:00p CT… the range was from 40 at Haleyville to 77 at Mobile. Clouds cover much of the state, although the sun is peeking out at times over the southern counties.
RADAR CHECK: Alabama is rain-free this afternoon; the rain shield associated with Tropical Depression Nicole is well to the northeast, the sky has cleared temporary over the western counties of the state. Temperatures are hovering around 70 degrees in most locations. Clouds will increase tonight, and some rain will push into Northwest Alabama during the pre-dawn hours.
SHARPLY COLDER: A cold front is pushing through Alabama in dry fashion this morning, and it will be followed by the coldest air so far this season. Today will be mostly sunny with a cool northwest wind of 10-20 mph; the high will be in the 66-71 degree range over North Alabama, with mid 70s for the southern counties of the state.
MIXED SUN AND CLOUDS: For some, the sun is shining brightly this afternoon across Alabama, but some are under a persistent cloud cover. Most of the state is noticeably colder today… in fact some spots over the northern counties are barely out of the 30s. The cold front has stalled out around Troy; Dothan is still in the upper 70s at mid-afternoon.
CALMER DAY: A cold front is pushing through far South Alabama early this morning… it will bring colder air down into the state today with a clearing sky. Despite sunshine this afternoon… most places north of Birmingham won’t get out of the 40s. The average high for Birmingham on February 18 is 60.
COLD FRONT: Today will be a mostly cloudy day across Alabama as a cold front passes through the state. Once the front passes this afternoon, north winds of 12-22 mph will bring in some of the coldest air we have experienced so far this season. Temperatures won’t get out of the 40s this afternoon, and with a deep upper trough with very cold air aloft overhead a few snow flurries or snow showers are possible across Northeast Alabama, despite a dry airmass.
RADAR CHECK: Some light rain continues this afternoon over far South Alabama, in the broad zone from Mobile to Dothan. Clouds linger over the southern half of the state, but the sky has become mostly sunny over the northern counties of the state as dry air is pushing southward. Rain will end across South Alabama this evening… the sky will be mostly clear tonight with a low in the mid 20s.
Our long time friend, mentor, and charter Weather Factory member, J.B. Elliott, passed away on May 11, 2015. Click HERE to read James' tribute.
