COOL START: Here are some temperatures across Alabama early this morning…
Fort Payne 35
Gadsden 36
Jasper 37
Morris 37
Sylacauga 37
Selma 37
Hueytown 38
Chelsea 38
Anniston 39
Cullman 39
Scottsboro 39
Haleyville 39
Helena 40
Evergreen 40
Birmingham 41
Huntsville 42
Decatur 43
Tuscaloosa 43
Muscle Shoals 43
Montgomery 44
Greenville 45
Mobile 45
Dothan 45
With sunshine in full supply today we are forecasting a high in the 77-80 degree range. Dry weather continues through the rest of the week with highs back in the 80s tomorrow through Friday.
THE WEEKEND: An approaching upper trough will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms both Saturday and Sunday. We note SPC has defined severe weather risks west of Alabama Thursday and Friday, but it is too early to know if we will have a risk of severe storms here over the weekend. It is important to note the weekend won’t be a total wash-out… rain amounts will be in the 1-2 inch range over the northern half of the state, with 1/2 to 1 inch for the southern counties. Highs will be in the low 80s.
Global models suggest Monday of next week will be dry, followed by another chance of showers and storms Tuesday and Wednesday (April 28-29)… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
RACE WEEKEND: No doubt there will be some rain at times at Talladega this weekend, but there will be some good breaks in the rain, and the sun could pop up out at times. Highs will be generally in the low 80s, lows in the low to mid 60s. We will be much more specific about timing, any risk of severe storms, etc over the next few days.
ON THIS DATE IN 1920: In a spring filled with deadly tornadoes across much of the eastern U.S., an outbreak of at least three violent tornadoes struck north Alabama the morning and early afternoon of April 20th, 1920. The worst tornado of the day first touched down in eastern Mississippi. It stayed on the ground for 130 miles as it cut a swath across Marion, Franklin, and Colbert counties in Alabama. In another tornado that day, numerous homes were destroyed in the eastern Madison County communities of Gurley and Brownsboro. The final Alabama death toll reached 92 people with hundreds more injured.
Look for the next video briefing here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
