James Spann: Warmer, drier days ahead for Alabama
RADAR CHECK: Areas of rain and a few thunderstorms are moving eastward across the northern two-thirds of Alabama this afternoon. The southern third of the state is dry with a partly to mostly sunny sky. Showers will end after sunset tonight; temperatures will drop into the low to mid 60s early Wednesday morning.
REST OF THE WEEK: As an upper low continues to move away, most of the state will be dry Wednesday, with only isolated afternoon showers over the northern and eastern counties. The weather also begins to warm up, with highs in the 80s statewide.
Thursday will be mostly sunny, and most of the day Friday will be dry and very warm. A cold front could push a few thunderstorms into the northern quarter of Alabama Friday night; some of those could be strong. Expect highs between 87 and 90 degrees.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: That surface front will become nearly stationary just north of Alabama, so we will mention some risk of random, scattered showers or storms over the northern half of the state Saturday and Sunday (mostly during the afternoons and evenings). It won’t be a washout at all, nothing like the big rain we saw this past weekend. Most of south Alabama should be dry both days, and afternoon temperatures will be mostly in the mid to upper 80s.
NEXT WEEK: Warm weather continues through the week, with highs between 86 and 91 degrees. We will have a few days with a risk of scattered afternoon and evening storms, but no sign for now of any widespread rain or severe weather threats. Most of the active weather will likely be north of Alabama thanks to an upper ridge near the Gulf Coast.
ON THIS DATE IN 1980: An F3 tornado ripped directly through the center of Kalamazoo, Michigan, killing five people, injuring 79, leaving 1,200 homeless and causing $50 million in damage.
ON THIS DATE IN 1995: An outbreak produced tornadoes extending from the Mississippi River near Burlington, Iowa, to the west of Bloomington, Illinois. Two violent tornadoes, each ranked at F4 intensity, were reported.
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