James Spann: Showers, storms end tonight in Alabama; Friday looks cooler and drier
RADAR CHECK: Large areas of rain continue to move across Alabama this afternoon. With a cloudy sky temperatures are between 58 and 64 degrees in most places.
Late this morning SPC introduced a low end “marginal risk” of severe thunderstorms for much of North and West Alabama this evening …
With an approaching cold front and relatively strong wind fields aloft, there could be a strong storm over Northwest Alabama early tonight, but thankfully there is very little surface based instability available. So the threat of a severe storm is pretty low, but as always we will watch radar trends.
Showers and storms end tonight from the northwest as the cold front advances quickly through the state.
TOMORROW AND THE WEEKEND: Tomorrow will be a sunny and colder day; highs will range from the upper 40s over the northern third of the state, to near 60 along the Gulf Coast. Colder spots over North/Central Alabama will see a light freeze early Saturday morning. Then, during the day Saturday, with sunshine in full supply temperatures rise into the 60s for much of the state.
Most of Alabama will stay dry Sunday, although a few showers will be possible over the southwest counties. Expect a high Sunday between 56 and 66 degrees.
CHRISTMAS WEEK: The week looks generally dry with mild afternoons and cool nights. Highs in the 60s for North Alabama; the southern counties have a good chance of seeing low to mid 70s Wednesday and Christmas Day. Morning lows will be in the 40s and 50s … 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 tomorrow night (7 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be clear with temperatures falling through the 50s. It will be a windy at times with a south wind averaging 12-22 mph, possibly gusting to 30 mph early in the game.
ON THIS DATE IN 1944: Typhoon Cobra, also known as the Typhoon of 1944 or Halsey’s Typhoon (named after Admiral William “Bull” Halsey), was the U.S. Navy designation for a tropical cyclone that struck the Task Force 38 during World War II in the Pacific. The typhoon was first observed on December 17 as it surprised a fleet of ships in the open waters of the western Pacific Ocean.
Sustained winds associated with the storm were up to 100 mph with gusts to 140 mph. On December 18, the small but violent typhoon hit the Task Force while many of the ships were attempting to refuel. Due to the extreme seas and winds, three destroyers capsized and went down with practically all hands, while a cruiser, five aircraft carriers and three destroyers suffered serious damage. Approximately 790 officers and men were lost or killed with another 80 injured.
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