James Spann: Cold tonight; warmer days ahead
SUNNY SKY: We have a cloudless sky across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures ranging from the upper 40s across the Tennessee Valley to the low 60s near the Gulf Coast. Tonight will be clear and cold … many communities across the northern third of the state will see a light freeze.
The sky will stay sunny tomorrow with a high in the 57-67 degree range. Expect similar temperatures Sunday with a mix of sun and clouds; a few small, isolated showers could show up over west and southwest Alabama, but most of the state will stay dry.
CHRISTMAS WEEK: No white Christmas around here … temperatures will be well above average through the week. Highs mostly in the 60s Monday and Tuesday, followed by low to mid 70s for most the state Wednesday and on Christmas Day. Nights will be cool with morning lows in the 40s and 50s. Most of the week will be dry … just a few isolated showers around Monday. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: Alabama is in Norman to take on Oklahoma in the first round of the college football playoffs tonight (7 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be clear with temperatures falling through the 50s. It will be windy at times with a south wind averaging 12-22 m.p.h., possibly gusting to 30 m.p.h. early in the game.
ON THIS DATE IN 1974: Two F3 tornadoes touched down in Pike County. One fully loaded truck was flipped several times on U.S. 231 north of Troy and another smaller truck was spun around and had the rear window broken.
ON THIS DATE IN 2009: Snowfall totals between one and two feet were commonplace in what will go down as one of the biggest snowstorms in history on the East Coast and the first of four snowstorms for the Mid-Atlantic during the winter of 2009-10. The 15 inches of snow measured at Reagan International Airport on Dec. 19 was the third-highest daily snowfall on any calendar day at Washington, D.C., since snowfall records began in 1884.
I will be on vacation next week … but the rest of the team at the Alabama Weather Network will have you covered until I return on the 29th. Enjoy the weekend and Merry Christmas!!!