BLUSTERY: Today is a sunny, cold, and windy day across Alabama. Temperatures range from the low 30s across the Tennessee Valley to the mid 50s near the Gulf Coast. Tonight will be clear and cold. Winds will diminish this evening, and by daybreak tomorrow look for a low in the 17-27 degree range for most Alabama communities.
A warming trend begins tomorrow afternoon; with sunshine in full supply we expect a high in the 50s. Temperatures reach the 60s Wednesday with a partly sunny sky… most of the state will stay dry. There could be a few isolated showers over the Tennessee Valley by Wednesday afternoon, however.
THURSDAY: A fast moving surface front will bring rain and thunderstorms into Alabama Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. Rain amounts of 1/2 to 1 inch are likely for most of the state. Instability will be relatively low, and for now it doesn’t look like a severe weather setup.
Dry air returns Friday; temperatures will drop only about five degrees. Highs will be in the 64-72 degree range Friday afternoon.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: At this point the weekend looks generally rain-free and very mild with highs in the 70s. Partly sunny days, fair nights, showers few and far between.
And, for now much of next week looks fairly quiet with nothing more than scattered showers on a day or two… temperatures stay mild. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
BLIZZARD OF 26: A potentially historic blizzard is in full progress this morning from eastern Maryland to Cape Cod. It will begin across the coast of Maine later today. Snow will be measured in feet, winds could gust to hurricane force along the Atlantic. New York City and Boston are pretty much shut down today.
ON THIS DATE IN 1975: An F4 tornado tore through parts of the city of Tuscaloosa, killing one person. It first touched down in the Taylorville community and then skipped northeastward before hitting the Skyland Park area and moving on to McFarland Blvd near the intersection of I-59/20. It went on to affect parts of the Alberta City and Holt. The official path length was 14.4 miles. Along it, 289 homes were destroyed or heavily damaged, along with 20 businesses and 21 mobile homes. The tornado nearly destroyed the new Scottish Inn motel on I-59 at McFarland. The fatality was a 23 year old housekeeper named Thelma Hill, killed when most of the second floor of the motel was sheared away by the tornado causing a wall to fall on her.
On a personal note, this was my closest encounter with a tornado. I was on the air, working the Noon-6pm shift that Sunday afternoon at WTBC Radio on 15th Street. I received the tornado warning via a Civil Defense radio, and read it on the air. Then, I played “Lightning Strikes” by Lou Christie, and the power went out. I walked outside, and while I couldn’t see the tornado due to trees and rain, I sure heard it. A noise you never forget; it passed about one mile to the east.
Look for the next video briefing here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
