James Spann: Dry through the weekend, with a warming trend

WARMER DAYS: Temperatures are in the 50s across Alabama this afternoon with a sunny sky. Tonight will be clear and cold, but not as cold as last night. Lows tomorrow morning will range from the upper 20s in colder pockets across North Alabama to the low 40s near the coast.

A warming trend headlines the forecast through the rest of the week with sunny days and fair nights. Expect a high in 60s tomorrow, and low to mid 70s by Thursday and Friday.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Saturday will be dry and mild, and at this point Sunday looks generally dry as well. Afternoon highs will remain in the 70s, lows will be in the 40s and 50s.

NEXT WEEK: Global models are suggesting mostly dry weather for the Deep South Monday and Tuesday, followed by the next chance of rain and storms at some point over the latter half of the week. Highs will be close to 70 degrees much of the week … See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

NEW RECORDS: Here are new record lows earlier today across Alabama:

• Huntsville 21 (old record 22 in 1926)
• Montgomery 23 (old record 29 in 1926 and 1991)
• Anniston 23 (old record was 24 in 1950)
• Tuscaloosa 24 (old record 26 in 1953)
• Birmingham 25 (ties the record of 25 in 1926)
• Dothan 27 (old record was 32 in 2011)
• Mobile 28 (old record 31 in 2011)

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Saturday Alabama will host Oklahoma at Bryant-Denny Stadium/Saban Field (2:30 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be partly to mostly sunny with temperatures in the low to mid 70s.

ON THIS DATE IN 1911: A powerful cold front, known as the Great Blue Norther of 1911, produced some of the most extreme temperature changes to the nation’s midsection. Ahead of the cold front, a warm and moist environment caused a severe weather outbreak with several strong tornadoes reported in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

An estimated F4 tornado occurred from Janesville to Milton, Wisconsin, and caused extensive damage to several farms and killed nine people. The citizens of Janesville, Wisconsin, reported blizzard conditions with a temperature near zero within an hour of the tornado.

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