Most of the precipitation has moved eastward out of Alabama, but there is an exception. Rather widespread light drizzle continues over the eastern counties, most of it too light to be picked up by radar. It seems that some of the more significant drizzle is across Clay, Talladega and Calhoun Counties.
Even though it messed up some folks Christmas playing outdoors, a very nice rain event occurred mainly over the eastern counties today. Originally this rain was unexpected. An upper-level disturbance west of the state picked up more moisture than expected. That upper-level disturbance was almost a closed low at about 18,000 feet centered near Vicksburg this morning. This evening, it is a closed low and is centered almost directly over Anniston. The 850 mb temperature has dropped to 32 degrees.
The nice part about today’s rain and drizzle was that it was long drawn out and steady and light enough where much of it had time to soak into the ground. There were some periods of sleet over the eastern counties from near Centre down to Oxford and even a little bit of sleet reported in Montgomery. Birmingham did not get any precipitation. We did have a little light drizzle here in Trussville this evening, but it has stopped. We received an e-mail at 5:32 p.m. from Danny Cooner and he reported that it was snowing in the Tiffany Estates section of Trussville.
I love this e-mail from William Johnson on Poor House Branch at Logan Martin Lake. He reports over 1/2 inch of rain today. He also said it had been so dry in Talladega County that the fire hydrants have been chasing the dogs.
Here is a roundup of rain amounts through early evening from official NWS gauges, the Alabama Power Network and ABC 33/40 skywatchers.
0.60 Weaver
0.07 Jemison
0.15 Ashville
0.62 Ashland
0.50 Alpine
0.52 Alexander City
0.32 North Auburn
0.35 Blue Pond
0.46 Logan Martin Dam
0.31 Childersburg
0.24 Clanton
0.52 Lay Dam
0.26 Collinsville
0.49 Colvin Gap (near the Calhoun/Etowah County line)
0.45 Centre (Weiss Dam)
0.41 Dearmandville
0.51 Gadsden Steam Plant
0.37 Horseshoe Bend
0.53 Hollins
0.59 Jackson Shoals
0.67 Mt. Cheaha
0.40 Pell City
0.62 Henry Dam
0.50 Rock Run
0.36 Roanoke, Sylacauga
0.46 Wadley
0.67 Anniston Airport
0.41 Dothan
0.26 Montgomery
0.29 Troy
0.28 DeSoto State Park
EARLY EVENING TEMPERATURES
34 Haleyville
39 Gadsden
41 Tuscaloosa, Anniston, Alexander City
43 Birmingham Airport
41 Huntsville
