James Spann: snow showers this morning, very cold today

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ALABAMA THIS MORNING
Light snow showers fall across the northern and central parts of the state this morning. Southern Alabama is cloudy but dry. Temperatures sit in the upper teens in the north, the mid to upper 20s in central and south-central Alabama, and the low 30s in the south.

A Wind Advisory in effect for most of the state except the north. Winds will blow from 10-20 m.p.h. throughout the day and could gust up to 40 m.p.h. Strong winds right now are making wind chill temperatures as much as 15 degrees below the actual temperature. The wind chill in Huntsville is 1 degree. In Mobile, its 18 degrees.

North and east Alabama is under a Cold Weather Advisory (light blue) until noon Sunday (north) and noon today (east). Wind chill temperatures are expected to be from 4 below zero to 5 above zero at times in the area.

An Extreme Cold Warning (bright blue) is effect for the western two-thirds of the state until noon Sunday. Wind chills are expected to be as low as 6 degrees above zero at times.

With the snow showers we’re seeing right now, Etowah-Calhoun-Cherokee-Cleburne-Clay-Randolph counties are under a Winter Weather Advisory until noon today. Snow accumulations could be up to one inch, and winds could gust up to 40 mph.

What a wintry morning!

ALABAMA 7 DAY FORECAST
Snow showers could continue today, then tomorrow will be clear and very cold. Warmer temperatures will occur Monday and Tuesday. Rain chances increase Tuesday as a cold front approaches the state. The chance lingers Wednesday, and temperatures cool off again. Thursday will be cold, but not nearly as cold this week. Friday will be warmer.

COLD TODAY, CHANCE FOR SNOW
Highs today will only manage to reach the upper 20s north, the low 30s centrally, and the mid 30s in the south. However, winds will continue to be strong today, so the “wind chill high temperatures” will range from the low teens north, and upper teens and low 20s farther south. Most of the snow will move out of the state by around noon today, but there is still a chance for a snow band to pass through central Alabama this afternoon. If you have to go outside today, make sure you bundle up!

BITTERLY COLD TONIGHT
The northern half of the state will stay cloudy, while the southern half will be clear overnight. This will keep the low temperatures in both areas very similar, staying in the mid to upper teens. The coast will be around 21. Winds will begin to weaken slightly overnight, but our lows are going to be cooler than they were this morning. They will fall into the teens and 20s. Expect another night of single digit wind chills in the north and wind chills in the teens farther south.

PLAIN COLD TOMORROW
Precipitation will no longer be a concern tomorrow, but the state will still be cold. Winds will still be gusting in the teens and 20s, so our actual highs: the mid 30s north through upper 40s south, will feel colder. Wind chill temperatures will be 5-10 degrees below, ranging from the low 30s north to the low to mid 40s south.

MODERATING TREND TO START THE WORKWEEK
A high-pressure system will have settled into the southeast by Monday, and highs will be able to moderate slowly. Highs Monday will be in the upper 40s to low 50s in the northern half of the state and the mid to upper 50s in the southern half. Skies will be mostly clear.

WET TUESDAY
Highs Tuesday will be good news for anyone fed up with the cold! They will range from the upper 50s north to the low to mid 60s across central and south Alabama. Rain will begin Tuesday as well as a cold front approaches the state. Thunderstorms are not a concern.

COOLING TREND BEGINS WEDNESDAY
As the cold front sweeps the state Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, colder air will follow. Highs Wednesday will be in the mid to upper 40s north, low to mid 50s centrally, and still hitting the 60s in the south. The cold will settle in by Thursday, so highs will reach the mid 30s in the north, the low 40s in central Alabama, and the upper 40s and low 50s south. So yes cold, but not AS cold as we’ve been recently.

MILD FRIDAY
Highs will increase Friday, climbing to the upper 40s and low 50s north, and the mid 50s to low 60s in central and south Alabama.

LARGE DROUGHT IMPROVEMENTS THIS WEEK
After a few weeks of the entire state experiencing some kind of drought conditions, we finally see a return of no drought conditions this week. Located in western north-central Alabama, it encompasses 14.88% of the state. The D1 category, Moderate Drought, has seen a decrease as well, now at 23.09%. That is a 17% decrease from last week. Extreme Drought (D3) conditions have improved as well, with only 1.64% of the state experiencing that now.

TODAY IN WEATHER HISTORY
January 31, 1953
The Netherlands experienced its deadliest flood disaster in five centuries when a powerful North Sea storm drove record-breaking water levels into the country’s low-lying coastal regions. Over half of the nation lies below sea level, protected by an intricate system of dikes, but during the night water levels surged higher than any previously recorded, overtopping defenses just after midnight. More than 50 dikes failed, allowing the sea to reclaim over one million acres of land, destroying 40,000 homes and flooding 133 villages. Despite advance warnings from the Dutch Surge Warning Service and the UK Met Office, hurricane-force winds knocked out power, phone lines, and radio broadcasts, leaving many residents unaware of the danger until it was too late. Church bells were used to warn communities as floodwaters rushed in, claiming more than 1,800 lives and causing over $500 million in damage. The storm surge was intensified by a spring tide, when the sun, moon, and Earth aligned to produce unusually high tides. In the aftermath, the Dutch government launched the Delta Works, a massive system of dams, dikes, and floodgates designed to ensure such a catastrophe would never happen again.

IMAGE OF THE DAY

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