James Spann: Light rain ends this morning in Alabama; cold night ahead

RADAR CHECK: Patchy light rain/drizzle lingers across the northern half of Alabama at sunrise; it will be over by mid-morning. Some clearing is likely over Southwest Alabama later today, but clouds will likely linger over the northern 2/3 of the state with temperatures holding in the 40s.

Tonight will be clear and cold; a freeze is likely statewide early tomorrow morning … most places will start the day in the 20s. Expect a high in the 50s tomorrow with a partly to mostly sunny sky.

Clouds will increase tomorrow night, and we are forecasting periods of rain Thursday and Friday. For now it looks like the most widespread rain will come Thursday night into Friday morning, and the heavier rain totals will be over the southern half of the state.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Saturday will be a mostly cloudy day; the best chance of rain will be over South Alabama and near the coast. Sunday should be a brighter day with a partly to mostly sunny sky. Highs over the weekend will be in the 50s.

NEXT WEEK: For now most of next week looks dry with highs mostly in the 50s and lows in the 30s.

FOOTBALL: Jacksonville State will host Kennesaw State Friday evening (6 p.m. kickoff) in the C-USA Championship game. The sky will be cloudy with temperatures in the 40s. Some light rain or drizzle is possible.

Troy will travel to play James Madison in the Sunbelt Conference Championship game Friday night (6 p.m. kickoff in Harrisonburg, Virginia). For those traveling to the game, expect a cloudy, cold night temperatures falling from near 32 at kickoff, into the upper 20s by the final whistle. For now we have removed the chance of snow from the forecast.

Alabama takes on Georgia Saturday in Atlanta (3 p.m. kickoff) in the SEC Championship game. The game will be played in a domed stadium, but for the fans walking to and from the game the sky will be cloudy with a little light rain or drizzle possible. The high in Atlanta Saturday afternoon will be in the low 50s.

ON THIS DATE IN 1896: An early season snow and ice storm struck the southeastern U.S. Eleven inches of snow fell at Charlotte, North Carolina, and 6 inches at Atlanta. Snow was reported over the southern 2/3 of Alabama.

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