James Spann: Cool start to the day in Alabama; rain chances return Thursday

FALL PREVIEW: Birmingham has dropped to 56 degrees at 5:00 a.m. … a new record low for August 27. The old record was 58, set last in 1968.

Other temperatures across Alabama just before daybreak…

Fort Payne 51
Cullman 52
Gadsden 52
Collinsville 52
Haleyville 53
Meridianville 53
Decatur 53
Jasper 54
Pell City 54
Anniston 54
Courtland 54
Huntsville 55
Talladega 55
Scottsboro 55
Cottondale 56
Hueytown 56
Guntersville 57
Muscle Shoals 58
Alexander City 58
Montgomery 67
Mobile 71

We note some high clouds over South Alabama early this morning (keep them mostly in the 60s) … otherwise today will be mostly sunny and pleasant with a high in the 80s.

The day tomorrow will be generally dry, but some light rain could move into Northwest Alabama by mid to late afternoon. We will mention a chance of showers statewide tomorrow night and Friday thanks to a weak surface front drifting into the state. Best coverage of showers Friday will be along and south of I-20, where the front will become nearly stationary.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: With the stalled front hanging around, we will maintain the chance of showers both Saturday and Sunday. Not a wash-out at all, but some rain is possible at times both days, especially over the southern 2/3 of the state. Rain amounts should be fairly light, and the sky will be generally cloudy. Expect highs in the low to mid 80s for most communities.

NEXT WEEK: A few showers can’t be ruled out Monday, but mid-week looks dry with highs in the 80s. A surface front could bring showers back into the Deep South late in the week.

TROPICS: Weak Tropical Storm Fernand in the North Atlantic is far from land and will become post-tropical tonight. The rest of the Atlantic basin remains very calm and additional tropical storm formation is not expected for at least the next seven days.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB hosts Alabama State at Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham tomorrow night (7:30 p.m. kickoff). There is some risk of 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 1883: Krakatoa Volcano exploded in the East Indies. The explosion was heard more than 2,500 miles away, and every barograph around the world recorded the passage of the airwave, up to seven times. Giant waves, 125 feet high and traveling 300 mph, devastated everything in their path, hurling ashore coral blocks weighing up to 900 tons, and killing more than 36,000 persons. Volcanic ash was carried around the globe in thirteen days producing blue and green suns in the tropics, and vivid red sunsets in higher latitudes. The temperature of the earth was lowered one degree for the next two years, finally recovering to normal by 1888.

ON THIS DATE IN 1893: An estimated Category 3 hurricane made landfall near Savannah, Georgia. This hurricane produced a high storm surge of 16 to 30 feet which cost the lives of 1,000 to 2,000 people. As of now, this storm is one of the top 5, deadliest hurricanes on record for the USA.

ON THIS DATE IN 2005: Hurricane Katrina reached Category 3 intensity in the Gulf about 335 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. It would make landfall on the Gulf Coast August 29.

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