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COLDEST AIR SO FAR: Step outside and you can really feel that north wind helping to bring in the coldest air so far this season. I checked out the Cheaha SKYCAM at midday; the temperature was 46 degrees with a wind chill index of 39. Birmingham at 12:00 noon was reporting 52 degrees with a northwest wind averaging 13 mph, with a dewpoint of only 21.
THREE COLD NIGHTS: Maybe not a three dog night, but it will be cold enough for late October. Not much change in our thinking; tomorrow morning we should drop into the 30 to 35 degree range; frost is not really likely due to persistent wind. That wind should also keep the temperature spread pretty tight, but some spots will be at the freezing mark for the first time this year.
The coldest morning should come at daybreak Wednesday with lows from 23 in the coldest valleys to 38 on the ridgetops. Yep, that is a 15 degree spread, not uncommon on a clear cold night in Alabama. Frost should be widespread with the light wind, and many communities will be wrapping up the 2008 growing season with the first freeze of the season.
And, we should mention that more frost is likely early Thursday with lows in the low to mid 30s.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Temperatures will moderate a bit, setting the stage for a really nice weekend with sunny pleasant days and clear chilly nights.
For the trick or treaters, looks like a great night Friday night with a clear sky and temperatures falling through the 60s quickly during the evening hours, and into the 50s by 8:00 or so. Of course, that also means great weather for high school football.
Highs will range from 70 to 75 on Friday and Saturday, perhaps cooling a bit on Sunday with a fresh shot of cool and dry air moving in from the north. Morning lows will be mostly in the 40s.
THE LAND OF VOODOO: Some hint of a short wave that would bring some risk of showers in about 7 to 8 days (Tuesday or Wednesday of next week), but confidence is low due to model inconsistencies. November is the beginning of our fall tornado season, so we expect an increase in the number of rain producing systems this time of the year.
FALL BACK: Don’t forget we go back on standard time this weekend; we set the clocks back one hour late Saturday night. The sun will set Sunday afternoon a little before 5:00 p.m.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 30 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. You can even listen here on the blog; look for the player on the top left. We will record a new episode tonight; it will be available by 11:00 p.m. or so.
TWITTER: Don’t forget, you can follow our news and weather updates from ABC 33/40 on Twitter here. And, my personal Twitter feed is here if you want to keep up with my adventures in life. Twitter is a short messaging service you can receive via the web, cell phone, or IM.
STORM ALERT XTREME: Want to be trained as a storm spotter? Want to join the ABC 33/40 Skywatcher team? Our annual training event, Storm Alert Xtreme, is coming up on Saturday November 15 at the BJCC during the annual Birmingham International Auto Show. You will be trained by the best SKYWARN trainer in the nation, our own Brian Peters (he has trained over 6,000 Alabama storm spotters over the years), and learn from one of the most brilliant weather researchers in the country, our own Dr. Tim Coleman. We encourage all of our Skywatchers to attend this every year; you simply cannot get enough training. We will begin at 9:30, and be out by 3:30. And, everyone that attends Storm Alert Xtreme gets free admission to the Alabama International Auto Show. There is no admission charge, and no need to register. Just show up, but get there early for a good seat. We had a packed house last year.
Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…..
