James Spann: clearing tonight; dry through mid-week

CLOUDS HANG TOUGH: Clouds are still in place across much of Alabama this afternoon, but they are thinning out, and we still expect a clearing sky tonight. A freeze is likely over the northern half of the state early tomorrow morning … we will see mid to upper 30s down to the coast.

At this point the rest of the week looks dry. The warmest afternoon will be Wednesday, when most of South Alabama will enjoy a high well into the 60s. There will be an increase in clouds late in the week ahead of a cold front, but for now the air looks too dry for any meaningful rain.

COLD WEEKEND: The coldest air so far this season will arrive by the weekend. Highs drop into the 40s, lows in the 20s for most of the state. Communities across the northern third of Alabama have a chance of seeing lows in the upper teens by Sunday morning. The cold air will be very dry and there is no risk of any “winter mischief” (snow or ice).

And, for now the weather looks dry into at least the first half of next week with a warming trend. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

ON THIS DATE IN 1952: This date marked the conclusion of the deadly smog event that plagued London for days. A period of unusually cold weather, combined with an anticyclone and windless conditions, collected airborne pollutants—mostly arising from the use of coal—to form a thick layer of smog over the city. Government medical reports in the weeks following the event estimated that up to 4,000 people had died as a direct result of the smog and 100,000 more were made ill by the smog’s effects on the human respiratory tract. More recent research suggests that the total number of fatalities was considerably greater, with estimates of between 10,000 and 12,000 deaths.

ON THIS DATE IN 1987: An intense Pacific storm system brought winds of 94 mph in Oregon, while Washington saw 60 mph gusts and dime-sized hail, alongside significant snowfall in the Cascades.

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