THIS AFTERNOON: We have a party sunny sky across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures mostly in the low to mid 80s; the average high for May 19 at Birmingham is 83. Strong southeast winds are gusting to 25/30 mph at times due to a tight pressure gradient over the state, with high pressure to the east, and low pressure to the west.
SNOW: As cold air deepens over North Alabama, rain will most likely change to light snow before ending late this afternoon and tonight. The change could come as early as 4:00 to 6:00 over the northwest corner of the state, but the main window comes from 6:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. Snow accumulation potential will be limited by the warm ground, but some grassy areas could see 1/2 to 1 inch in spots north of U.S. 278 (north of a line from Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden). Roads will be just wet tonight with no travel impact; surface temperatures will be in the mid 30s.
BLUSTERY MONDAY: A deep upper low is moving through the eastern third of the nation this morning, and will pull much colder air down into Alabama today. We note a few snow flurries on radar over the northeast counties of the state early this morning, but temperatures are above freezing, and there will be no impact. Look for a mix of sun and clouds today; temperatures won’t get out of the 40s, and they hold in the 30s all day over the Tennessee Valley of far North Alabama. A brisk northwest wind of 10-20 mph will make it feel colder.
WINDY AND COLD: The Arctic cold front continues to push southward through Alabama this morning; just before daybreak light rain was mainly south of I-59, and it will continue to end from northwest to southeast. As expected, there is some sleet and freezing rain on the back side of the precipitation shield, and also as expected, there is no impact.
Here is a look at what to expect across Alabama today… WINDY: A wind advisory is in effect for most of the state today. Keep in mind a tropical storm (Olga) moved onto the Louisiana coast overnight; it is now “post-tropical” after merging with the cold front, but a tight pressure gradient will produce southeast […]
WINDY DAY: Strong northwest winds will develop across Alabama today due to a tight pressure gradient; they will average 15-25 mph this afternoon with higher gusts. Those winds will pull in drier into the state, and the sky will become sunny today… the high will be in the 72-75 degree range. The average high for April 26 at Birmingham is 77.
MILD, WINDY AFTERNOON: Temperatures are in the 70s across the great state of Alabama this afternoon with a mix of sun and clouds. While our weather is calm here, we are watching a very deep surface low over Kansas… the pressure has dropped to 972 mb, or 28.70″ of mercury. A blizzard is in progress at Denver; winds at DIA have gusted to 80 mph. Blizzard warnings are in effect across the High Plains, and south and east of the surface low, in the warm sector, showers and storms continue to develop.
ON THE MAPS: A vigorous storm system is developing west of the state this morning as a cold core upper trough lifts out of the Southwest U.S. A very deep surface low, with a central pressure down to near 970 mb (28.64″), develops over western Kansas. North and west of that low, blizzard conditions are likely with hurricane force wind gusts, and south and east of the low severe storms will form. SPC has an “enhanced risk” of severe weather defined today along the Mississippi River from north of Memphis down to near Greenville, MS.
STILL WET THIS MORNING: A large mass of rain continues across Alabama this morning; the rain will end from west to east in coming hours as a complex storm system begins to lift away. Strong northwest winds will develop as the pressure gradient tightens… averaging 12-25 mph with occasionally higher gusts. Clouds will linger through the afternoon, and unfortunately temperatures will go nowhere. In fact, they will slowly fall, and some communities over North Alabama could reach the upper 30s this afternoon. It will be a raw, cold, and blustery day.
FREEZE WARNING: A freeze warning is in effect for much of North/Central Alabama for tonight and early tomorrow morning as temperatures are expected to drop to near 30 degrees. We also expect sub-freezing lows early Wednesday and Thursday mornings with lows in the 20s in many areas. Growers need to be ready to protect plants harmed by these kind of temperatures.
**No afternoon Weather Xtreme video today due to our coverage on ABC 33/40** COLD, WET, WINDY: This sure doesn’t feel like a September day. Temperatures are only in the 50s over much of North and East Alabama with a soaking rain and strong north wind on the west side of the circulation of Tropical Storm […]
IRMA WEAKENING AND HEADED OUR WAY: The large rain shield associated with Irma is moving into the Birmingham metro as I write this early this morning; that rain will overspread most of the state during the day today and continue tonight. Southwest Alabama, however, will stay dry for the most part… places like Mobile, Jackson, […]
STRONG PRE-DAWN WINDS: A wake low on the back side of the departing rain mass across Alabama is producing strong winds early this morning, gusting to 45 mph at times. Winds will stay up in the 15-25 mph range through the day due to a tight larger scale pressure gradient.
Rain will exit the state by mid-morning, and the sky becomes partly to mostly sunny by afternoon as cooler, drier air flows into the state. There is a tight surface pressure gradient in place, meaning strong west winds in the 15-30 mph, with gusts to 40 mph in spots. The NWS had a wind advisory in effect for much of Alabama today. Hang on to your hat.
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.
