Generally Dry Through Tomorrow

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THIS AFTERNOON: As J.B. has noted… we have experienced a few “illegal” showers today, on a day when we expected no rain. A small cluster of showers moved through parts of the Birmingham metro early this morning along a surface boundary (cold front/dry line), and that same front is producing isolated showers over Central Alabama, south of a line from Demopolis to Clanton to Roanoke. These showers to the south will dissipate this evening. Temperatures are generally in the upper 70s and low 80s, although it is cooler over North Alabama, where Haleyville reports a pleasant 72 degrees at 2:00 with a low dewpoint of 58.

COOL NIGHT: With the low dewpoints, temperatures will drop into the 50s late tonight. Most communities will drop into the 54 to 57 degree range early tomorrow, but we figure some of the coldest spots across North Alabama will reach the upper 40s. Very refreshing for mid to late May.

TOMORROW: Looks like a delightful day. Lots of sun with a high around 80. The humidity remains low. To the west, a tornado outbreak is possible around the Red River, with a moderate risk up for places like Wichita Falls, Texas and Lake Texoma.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY: The wave to the west gets closer, and a warm front will move northward during the day Thursday. This could kick off a few scattered showers or storms by the afternoon and evening hours, but the most widespread rain will be northwest of Alabama. Then, on Friday, scattered to numerous showers and storms are possible, mostly during the afternoon and evening hours. This should be the day with the best coverage of rain, and even then it won’t rain all day, and rain distribution will be rather uneven. The heaviest rain totals should be over the Tennessee Valley of extreme North Alabama. Highs will be mostly in the mid 80s on these two days with higher humidity levels.

THE WEEKEND: Upper ridging begins to build across the Deep South, and the weather will be hotter with showers thinning out. Any showers Saturday and Sunday will be rather isolated, and mostly during the afternoon and evening hours. Temperatures will rise to near 90 degrees both days with dewpoints up in the 60s.

NEXT WEEK: Not much change… our weather will stay warm and humid through the week, with some risk of a passing afternoon shower or storm in spots, but nothing especially widespread as the primary band of westerlies remains to the north and west of Alabama. Highs will be mostly in the mid to upper 80s.

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I had a great time today visiting the 3rd graders at Pleasant Grove Elementary… be looking for them on the Pepsi KIDCAM this afternoon at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. The next Weather Xtreme video will be posted by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…