A good deal of low stratoicumulus clouds cover North and Central Alabama this morning. There is more sunshine than we originally thought, and temperatures will manage to reach the low 50s in areas where there are breaks in the cloudiness. Cold air continues to flow into Alabama on the back of a brisk northerly wind.
At 11 a.m., temperatures across North and Central Alabama ranged from 43 at Muscle Shoals and Huntsville to 49 at Birmingham and 50 at Maxwell Air Force Base.
Alternating periods of partial sunshine and cloudiness will continue through the day. Temperatures tonight will drop into the lower and middle 30s across the area.
A very large upper level trough covers the eastern United States this morning. Looking at the water vapor satellite loops, a good deal of energy is rotating through the trough, deepening it. This will continue to allow cold air to conintue flowing into Alabama. Evnetually at some point tomorrow, the GFS model will cut off a large upper low over the Southeast. This will trigger the development of a strong surface low along the Atlantic Coast. This system will be hemmed in by high pressure to the north. This coastal low will deliver hevay rains, high winds and coastal flooding to the coast between northeastern Florida and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It should begin to weaken and move out by late Wednesday.
The diving energy tonight and Monday could squeeze out a few sprinkles, especially over eastern and northeastern sections. It appears that the atmosphere will be too warm for any snow to fall.
The cold air advection will keep temperatures in the 40s to perhaps the lower 50s tomorrow with partly cloudy skies. Skies should clear tomorrow night with light winds, and this will allow readings tomorrow night to fall into the 20s. Tuesday night will also be on the frosty side.
Recent runs of the GFS model have held the northerly flow in place longer than we earlier expected, so the warm up we are anticipating may be slower than we have been predicting. I will back off just a bit on expected temperatures for Tuesday through Thursday. Temperatures should edge back above normal by the end of the week and weekend.
Updated forecast package will be out shortly…enjoy the rest of your Sunday…
