James Spann: Coolest air so far this season arrives in Alabama

CRISP MORNING: Here are a few temperatures across Alabama just before sunrise this morning…

Fort Payne 39
Gadsden 39
Cottondale 39
Jasper 39
Cullman 41
Morris 41
Pell City 41
Decatur 42
Trenton 42
Chelsea 42
Dunnavant 42
Anniston 43
Millbrook 43
Helena 43
Muscle Shoals 44
Montgomery 46
Tuscaloosa 46
Birmingham 46
Dothan 51
Mobile 54

Expect sunshine in full force today with a high in the 70s. A cold front will pass through the state tomorrow with a few light showers, followed by even cooler air over the latter half of the week. The weather will be dry Wednesday through Friday … the northern third of the state will see highs in the 60s Wednesday, with lows in the 35–40-degree range early Thursday morning.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: The weather stays dry Saturday with a high in the 70s, but we will bring in a chance of rain Sunday ahead of an upper trough; for now it looks like the highest rain coverage will be over the northern half of the state. A chance of rain will linger statewide into early next week.

TROPICS: A tropical wave (Invest 98L) located over the eastern Caribbean Sea, a few hundred miles west of the Windward Islands, is producing a large area of poorly organized showers and thunderstorms. Recent satellite-derived wind data indicate that the disturbance continues to lack a closed circulation, although it is producing winds of 30 to 40 mph to the north and east of the wave axis.

The system is moving quickly westward at 20 to 25 mph, which should limit significant development during the next day or so. Thereafter, environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for development as the wave slows down over the central Caribbean Sea, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the middle to latter part of this week.

NHC gives it a 70% chance of development; if the system reaches tropical storm strength the name will be Melissa. A number of ensemble members are showing a sharp turn to the north in 5-6 days taking the system over Hispaniola. This mountainous island could disrupt the circulation with dissipation possible; if anything survives it will move northeast out into the open Atlantic. Some ensemble members show a weak system moving in the direction of Central America.

No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf for at least the next 7-10 days.

ON THIS DATE IN 1983: Remnants of Pacific Hurricane Tico caused extensive flooding in central and south-central Oklahoma. Oklahoma City set daily rainfall records with 1.45 inch on the 19th, and 6.28 inches on the 20th.

ON THIS DATE IN 2004: Typhoon Tokage blasted across Japan triggers flash floods that wash away entire hillsides, killing 55 people and leaving at least 24 people missing.

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