James Spann forecasts a break in rain for Alabama through Saturday morning from the Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
RADAR CHECK: Rain continues this morning in parts of eastern Alabama near the Georgia line. We are also seeing scattered light rain over northwestern counties. The rain should be over by midday and we forecast dry weather this afternoon and tonight with possible clearing. The high will be in the mid 60’s over northern Alabama with a low 70’s for the southern third of the state.
THE WEEKEND: Dry weather will continue into Saturday morning, but some scattered showers could be in evidence across western Alabama Saturday afternoon. The most widespread rain over the weekend comes on Saturday night, generally between 9pm and 5am on Sunday. The Storm Prediction Center maintains a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5) of severe thunderstorms for Southwest Alabama, including locations such as Mobile, Evergreen, Monroeville, Fairhope and Jackson.
While not a major threat, storms Saturday night in Alabama could bring locally damaging gusts and a tornado or two. The rest of the state has no threat of severe storms and probably not much thunder. The amount of rain is about 1 inch.
On Sunday skies will be partly sunny as dry air returns. Highs will generally be in the mid to high 60s over the weekend.
NEXT WEEK: Dry weather continues Monday and Tuesday with highs in the mid to high 60s. Then a dynamic weather system moves to Wednesday state with the risk of strong thunderstorms, possibly severe. It is still too early to assess the extent of the threat; We will keep an eye on the parameters over the weekend. The SPC defines a risk of severe storms west of Alabama on Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening. Dry air will return Thursday and Friday.
IRON BOWL: It’s going to be a mild day for Alabama’s biggest football game of the year on Saturday (Auburn at Alabama, kick-off 2:30 p.m.). Expect a temperature in the upper 60’s at kick-off. A temporary shower is possible during the game, but the most widespread rain will not reach Tuscaloosa until after the game is over. There is a 25-35% chance of a passing shower on Saturday afternoon. Temperatures will drop to the low 60s by the final whistle and rain will spread throughout western Alabama by 9 a.m. Saturday night.
Saturday morning should be dry for the tailgaters.
ON THIS DAY IN 1950: A storm dubbed the “Storm of the Century” struck the eastern portion of the United States, killing hundreds and causing millions of dollars in damage. New York City recorded a 94 mph gust and Bear Mountain, just north of the city, recorded a 140 mph gust. Record low temperatures were reported in Tennessee and North Carolina on the southern end of this storm. The storm was unique as Pittsburgh saw 30 inches of snow while Buffalo saw 50 degrees with gusts of 50 miles per hour.
The temperature in Birmingham fell to 5 degrees, the coldest November temperature on record. The day before, on November 24, snow fell over the northern half of the state.
ON THIS DAY IN 1986: An EF3 tornado has carved a 44-mile path through portions of Coffee, Dale and Barbour counties in southeast Alabama. The twister developed in the New Brockton area and then moved through Ariton, Elamville, Clio and Clayton where it dissipated. In New Brockton three were injured and a church, three houses and two other buildings were destroyed. Another church and 17 houses were damaged. An injury occurred in a mobile home near Ariton.
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