James Spann: Warmer days ahead; highs in the 70s by Thursday/Friday

COLD START: Here are temperatures across Alabama early this morning just before sunrise…

Jasper 19
Margaret 19
Cottondale 20
Haleyville 20
Gadsden 21
Huntsville 21
Helena 21
Decatur 22
Cullman 23
Albertville 23
Fort Payne 23
Hueytown 23
Demopolis 23
Heflin 23
Greenville 24
Troy 24
Sylacauga 24
Evergreen 24
Auburn 25
Montgomery 25
Selma 25
Tuscaloosa 25
Enterprise 26
Alexander City 26
Birmingham 26
Mobile 29
Dothan 29
Fairhope 32

A number of new record lows will likely be established across the state; we will have a list later this morning when the official lows are reported.

A warming trend headlines the forecast through the rest of the week with sunny days and fair nights. Expect a high in the 50s today, 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: The weather turns unsettled as moisture levels rise and an upper trough sets up to the west. We will have a decent chance of showers by Tuesday, and some risk of rain at times over the latter half of the week.

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 triggered a severe weather outbreak with several strong tornadoes reported in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

An estimated F4 tornado tore from Janesville to Milton, Wisconsin, 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.