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A CHANCE TO DRY OUT: After the big soaking over the weekend, we get a chance to dry out in coming days as dry, cool air takes over. Temperatures across our state today won’t rise much; most places won’t get past the low 50s with a chilly north breeze. Then, tomorrow morning, we should begin the day with a light freeze, with most spots winding up somewhere between 28 and 32 degrees. Tomorrow will feature a bright sunny sky with a high around 50. Another freeze is likely at daybreak Wednesday.
We begin a warming trend Wednesday afternoon as temperatures rise into the mid to upper 50s.
OUR NEXT RAIN: Clouds will begin to increase Thursday in advance of the next storm system coming along in the southern branch of the jet stream, and rain will become likely late Thursday night. The latest model data suggests the main window for rain will come from about midnight Thursday night through noon Friday, and we are projecting rain amounts of 1 to 2 inches.
WINTRY ISSUES? We have to wonder if the fun and games department will open up Friday as Arctic air blows into Alabama before the deep moisture is gone. As cold air floods the state Friday, no doubt we will need to mention some risk of rain becoming mixed with freezing rain, sleet, or snow before ending. For now we won’t mention any big chance of travel issues with lots of model uncertainty, but but understand Friday looks cold and wintry, with a risk of snow flurries even into Friday afternoon. Temperatures will hold in the 30s all day with a very brisk north wind. We will be much more specific on this as the week rolls along.
COLD WEEKEND: Saturday looks cold and dry; the GFS is printing a high of 43 degrees with a chilly north wind and a mix of sun and clouds following a low Saturday morning in the low 20s. Sunday morning will bring another significant freeze, but we rise to near 50 degrees by Sunday afternoon as a warming trend.
NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND: The first part of next week looks dry with a warming trend, followed by the next chance of rain around the middle of next week. And, out there in voodoo land, the operational GFS (06Z run) shows no major Arctic invasions, and the GFS AO outlook spikes strongly negative around Feb 1, but trends back toward the neutral line. Understand we are talking about severe cold potential here; even with a neutral AO there will be some very respectable cold snaps. Bottom line the jury is still out, but I believe the pattern does favor cold weather issues next month. We will see.
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 few episode tonight; a busy show tonight with Betsy Kling from WKYC in Cleveland joining the panel . It will be a memorable show with legend Les Lemon in the role of Guest WeatherBrain. The show will be posted by 11:00 p.m.
STORM ALERT 2010: Our annual severe weather tour across Alabama is about to begin! Our first stop this year will be THIS Thursday evening, January 28 in Winfield at First Baptist Church. You can meet the ABC 33/40 Weather team, see some amazing Alabama weather stories, learn how to keep your family safe this tornado season, and win some cool stuff. The show begins at 7:00; be sure and get there early to get a good seat. See the entire tour schedule here!
I have a very busy week ahead, beginning today with a long road trip up to Athens, in Limestone County, to speak to the students at Faith Christian Academy. I will be back in the office by early afternoon, and the next Weather Xtreme video will be posted by 3:30 this afternoon. Enjoy the day!
