Drew McCombs: Warm weekend before a cold week in Alabama
ALABAMA YESTERDAY
Cloud cover limited daytime heating yesterday, keeping high temperatures a bit cooler than forecast. Temperatures peaked in the upper 60s to low 70s east, with mid-70s observed in western Alabama.
Jim Byard Jr. posted this picture of “A foggy start to this 2nd day of Christmas in my hometown! #Prattville @spann” on X yesterday.
ALABAMA THIS MORNING
Unlike this week, no Dense Fog Advisories are in effect this morning. Some sparse fog may still be present, but it is not expected to be widespread or particularly dangerous to motorists. Clouds, however, dominate skies across the state. Temperatures are quite warm for a December morning, sitting in the low to mid 60s across the state.
The Orange Beach cam captures an overcast shore with a few rays of morning sun peaking through the clouds.
Skywatchers this morning are reporting temperatures in the low 60s.
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ALABAMA 7 DAY FORECAST
This weekend is the end of the unseasonable warmth as a strong cold front will bring much colder air and rain to the region on Monday. As a result, next week will be much colder, with winter coats returning to wardrobes across Alabama and the Southeast.
LESS CLOUDS AND WARM SATURDAY
There will be less cloud cover over the state than yesterday, allowing highs to reach the low to mid 70s north, and mid to upper 70s in central and south Alabama.
MILD NIGHT
Temperatures will fall to the upper 50s and low 60s overnight. Cloud cover increases as morning approaches.
CLOUDY SUNDAY
Ahead of the approaching cold front, skies will be overcast across the entire state, and wind gusts will begin to increase in north Alabama. Despite the heavy clouds and increased winds, high temperatures will manage to reach the mid 70s.
RAIN AND COLD RETURN MONDAY
Winter returns with a strong cold front entering northwest Alabama late Sunday night/early Monday morning. As the front traverses through the state, rain chances will increase, but rainfall amounts will be small, around 0.25”. Some rumbles of thunder and a stronger storm in the northwest are possible, but the overall severe threat with this system is very low. The Storm Prediction Center has placed the northwestern corner of Alabama in a Marginal Risk (1/5) for Severe Weather, but the majority of strong storms stay north. After the front, highs will only be in the upper 30s in the northwest, and 40s stretching from the northeast to the south. Continued strong winds will make high and low temperatures (20s and 30s) feel much colder. Don’t forget to take your umbrella and winter coat out of your closet Sunday night!
CHILLY TUESDAY
Sunny skies will do little to warm up the cold, dry air ushered in by Monday’s cold front. Highs will be similar with north Alabama topping out at the upper 30s and south Alabama hitting the mid to upper 40s.
SLOW WARM UP THROUGH FRIDAY
Low temperatures will still be cold every night, but high temperatures will gradually increase each day. Wednesday, highs are expected to be in the upper 40s and low 50s. Thursday and Friday, the range of highs will be from the low 50s north to the high 50s south. A weak cold front will move through Alabama Thursday into Friday.
RECORDS CONTINUALLY BROKEN IN THE SOUTH
Yesterday, a few high temperature records were broken in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Tulsa, Oklahoma, hit 79 degrees, surpassing the 2008 record of 76 degrees. Fort Smith, Arkansas, broke the record of 79 degrees in 1889 by 1 degree, hitting 80. Fayetteville, Arkansas, hit 80 degrees, not only beating the 77-degree record from 2021, but also setting the new all-time record high, which used to be 78 degrees set in 1951.
SMALL IMPROVEMENT TO DROUGHT
Drought conditions have shown only slight improvement since last week. The Moderate Drought (D1) category increased by less than 1% because the Severe Drought (D2) category decreased by less than 1%. 63.17% of the state is now under a D1 drought, while 8.27% of it is under D2. 5.69% of Alabama continues to be drought free, and only 2.43% is under extreme drought.
CLIPPER MOVES OUT OF NEW ENGLAND TODAY
New England wakes to 4-8 inches of snow this morning. The Clipper that moved through yesterday will intensify more and completely move out of the area by the end of the day.
STRONG, QUICK-MOVING WINTER STORM ON THE WAY TO NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.
The beginnings of a strong low-pressure system reside over the Intermountain regions now, producing rain and snow. It will begin to develop today as it moves eastward and collides with an arctic air mass. Snow will fall in the Rockies and High Plains through tonight, although accumulation will not be large because the system will be traveling fast. Through Sunday, the system will travel over the plains, bringing sharp drops in temperatures and strong winds to the area. As the area approaches the Midwest, the storm will be strong and capable of producing blizzard conditions across the area. Thunderstorms over the Great Lakes area give way to blizzard conditions by Monday morning.
SOUTHERN WARMTH BOOTED OUT BY BLUE NORTHER
The south will continue to see record-breaking warmth throughout the weekend before the strong cold front called the “Blue Norther”, associated with the low-pressure system impacting the north, moves through the Texas/Arkansas and Midwest region Sunday and Deep South and Ohio/Tennessee Valleys Monday. Thunderstorms can be expected in those areas ahead of the front. A Blue Norther is a very quick moving cold front that brings rapidly decreasing temperatures and precipitation to an area.
NATIONAL HIGH AND LOW
Texas continues to be hot, with La Puerta and Rio Grande Village reaching 90 degrees yesterday. Saranac Lake, New York, hit an absolutely frigid low of –18 degrees.
SOAK UP THE WARMTH
Another two days of beautiful beach weather is in the forecast, with the high today reaching the 70s and partly sunny skies. Water conditions stay calm as the rip current risk remains low. The same story continues tomorrow.
BIRMINGHAM BOWL
This Birmingham Bowl will take place at Protective Stadium on Monday at 1 p.m. Appalachian State takes on Georgia Southern on a cold and windy afternoon. Temperatures will be around 40 degrees at kickoff, then fall to the 30s by the end of the game.
ROSE BOWL
The Alabama team travels all the way to Pasadena, California, to face off against Indiana in the Rose Bowl. The game is on Thursday at 3 p.m. Conditions will not be favorable as rain is expected and temperatures will rise to the low 60s.
WEATHERBRAINS 1041:
The last episode of 2025 airs on Monday, featuring our friend Greg Carbin and a recap of the biggest weather stories of the year!
TODAY IN WEATHER HISTORY
December 27, 1998 – Sydney to Hobart Race Disaster
On December 27, 1998, the legendary Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was struck by one of the most brutal storms in its history. The 115-boat fleet, which had started just a day earlier, encountered an unexpectedly intense low-pressure system with sustained winds over 65 knots, gusts to 80 knots, and towering waves up to 50 feet. Five yachts sank and 55 sailors had to be rescued in what became Australia’s largest ever peacetime search and rescue effort, while six sailors lost their lives. An inquest later found that the race organizers and meteorologists failed in their duty to cancel or delay the start despite warnings — prompting sweeping reforms to safety and forecasting protocols. The 1998 edition of the race remains a stark reminder of how rapidly the ocean can turn deadly, even in a highly planned event.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
This image is one of many taken of the damage after the atmospheric river wreaked havoc in California this week. This is a photo of a car submerged in mud after flooding.
For more weather news and information from Drew McCombs and the rest of the James Spann team, visit the Alabama Weather Network.