James Spann: 50s in August?!?! Pleasant temperatures for much of Alabama

TEMPS BELOW AVERAGE: For most of Alabama, highs will be in the low to mid 80s for the rest of the week, well below average for late August. Today the northern counties will see cloudy periods, and maybe even a few sprinkles this morning as a disturbance aloft passes through. The clouds will move out this evening, setting the stage for a “cool” night for August. Most North Alabama communities will be in the 50s early this morning, in some cases near record lows. These are the record lows for August 27 …

Huntsville 52 (1945)
Birmingham 58 (1968)
Anniston 50 (1952)
Tuscaloosa 56 (1952)
Montgomery 59 (1952)

With dry air in place tomorrow will feature sunshine in full supply.

Most of Alabama will stay dry Thursday, although a few showers are possible over the southwest corner of the state. Then, on Friday, we will bring in a chance of showers statewide as a disturbance moves in from the west. Rain amounts won’t be especially heavy with limited moisture.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: We will mention some risk of showers both Saturday and Sunday, mostly over the southern half of the state. Otherwise expect a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the 82-86-degree range.

The weather stays relatively quiet across the Deep South next week. Much of the week looks dry until Thursday or Friday when a cold front will approach.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin remains very calm for late August; we are in the peak of the hurricane season. Tropical Storm Fernand in the North Atlantic will dissipate within the next 36 hours, and elsewhere tropical storm formation is not expected for at least the next seven days.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: College football is back … it begins Thursday night when UAB hosts Alabama State at Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham 7:30 p.m. kickoff). There is some risk of a shower or some light rain during the game … temperatures will fall from near 78 at kickoff into the low 70s by the fourth quarter.

Auburn will take on Baylor in Waco, Texas Friday night (7 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be mostly cloudy and there is the chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm during the game. Temperatures will fall from near 89 degrees at kickoff into the low 80s by the final whistle.

Saturday Alabama will be in Tallahassee to take on Florida State (2:30 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be cloudy at times, and a few passing showers or storms are likely during the game. Temperatures will be in the mid 80s.

ON THIS DATE IN 1992: Hurricane Andrew made a second landfall near Burns Point, Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane. Morgan City, Louisiana recorded sustained winds of 92 mph with a peak gust of 108 mph. Hammond, Louisiana was deluged with 11.92 inches of rain. As Andrew moved inland and weakened, it spawned 47 tornadoes from this date through the 28th from the South to the Mid-Atlantic States.

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit the Alabama Weather Network.