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We’re not going to have a White Christmas in Central Alabama, but we will have one of the necessary ingredients – cold air. The cold air arrived yesterday as we saw the temperature continue to fall just about all day. But overnight the clouds began to break up and if you were outside between 10 pm and midnight, the stars were shining brightly over much of Central Alabama. Satellite view showed an area of clouds over Middle Tennessee this morning, but sunshine will be returning to most of the Southeast today. A 10 to 15 mph north wind will make it feel even colder despite the bright sunshine as highs climb only into the lower 40s.
Christmas morning look for a hard freeze with lows dipping back into the lower and mid 20s. Some of those typically colder locations could see readings into the teens – know that will put a briskness into your step if you are out early Christmas morning. Most locations will see highs reach the upper 40s with perhaps a few places south of Birmingham reaching the lower 50s. While still well below seasonal averages for the latter part of December, the sunshine will allow folks to get outside with any new presents they might want to enjoy.
The overall upper air pattern remains active with a series of disturbances running through the general long wave pattern of a trough across the eastern US. These short waves moving through the flow will result in a series of cold fronts moving through the Southeast. But the atmosphere will remain dry, so there is not going to be more than some passing clouds to accompany the frontal passages. With a surface high situated over the eastern half of the country, the Gulf remains cut off. The GFS remains the most consistent model with some differences with the solution presented by the European. For now, the GFS appears to have a better track on the pattern as it exhibits a better pattern of consistency. But we will have to watch for any signs of added moisture return into the late weekend and early next week.
Looking at Week 2, or voodoo country, the GFS also maintains the consistently cold pattern for the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014. While I don’t plan to make any kind of forecast based on the long range projections, I will note that there are signs of a potential winter event with the cold air remaining firmly established over the eastern US. Certainly will be fun to watch the evolution of this cold pattern.
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All of us at the Alabama Weather Blog wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Thanks for staying weather aware. I anticipate posting the next Weather Xtreme Video on Christmas morning by 9 am or so. Stay warm and Godspeed.
-Brian-
