James Spann predicts wet weather for the long Thanksgiving weekend from the Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
RADAR CHECK: We’re having a few showers in parts of eastern and southeastern Alabama this morning; that will soon enter Georgia and most of the day will be dry. With partly sunny skies we are forecasting a high of between 66 and 71 degrees for most communities this afternoon. The average high for Birmingham on November 23 is 63. The weather is calm across much of the nation today, a great day for Thanksgiving Eve travel.
Clouds will increase Thursday and some rain could hit western Alabama late in the day. Rain is likely across the country from Thursday night through Friday; the main window will appear from around 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. Light thunderstorms are possible, but severe storms are not to be feared. Highs will be near 70 degrees on Thursday followed by low to mid 60 degrees on Friday.
THE WEEKEND: Another bout of rain is likely in Alabama on Saturday when an upper low looms west of the state. There is little to no surface-based instability, so no risk of severe storms and likely little thunder. The rain will end on Saturday evening from west to east. Rain amounts from Thursday night through Saturday night are 2-3 inches over the northern two-thirds of Alabama, with 1-2 inches for the southeastern counties.
The sky will be partly sunny on Sunday. Highs over the weekend will be in the 60’s.
NEXT WEEK: Dry, comfortable weather continues Monday and Tuesday with highs in the 60’s. Then a fairly dynamic weather system will bring rain and storms to the state Wednesday and Wednesday night; Some instability will exist for this system and strong to severe storms cannot be ruled out. Dry, cooler air returns with highs in the 50s on Thursdays and Fridays.
IRON BOWL: For Alabama’s biggest game of the year on Saturday (Auburn at Alabama, kick-off at 2:30 p.m.), skies will be cloudy and rainy spells are likely. At the moment, the chances of a flash delay look slim; Temperatures will be in the mid 60’s at kick-off and drop to almost 60’s by the final whistle. Take the rain gear.
ON THIS DAY IN 1912: The Rouse Simmons was a three-masted schooner famous for sinking on Lake Michigan during a violent storm. The ship was en route to Chicago with a cargo of Christmas trees when it sank off the coast of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, killing everyone on board.
ON THIS DAY IN 2004: An EF-1 tornado moved through portions of Lamar and Marion counties, causing extensive damage over a wide area from near Detroit to Hamilton. More tornadoes would land the next morning.
BEACH FORECAST: Click here to view the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.
For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.