THIS AFTERNOON: A veil of high clouds is over Alabama this afternoon… clouds are thicker over the southern half of the state, and we note a few sprinkles along the Gulf Coast. Temperatures are in the 60s, which is below average for early April. The sky becomes mostly fair tonight… look for a low early tomorrow between 45 and 55 degrees.
Expect dry weather tomorrow through Friday with highs generally in the 70s, lows in the 50s. Mostly sunny days, clear nights.
THE WEEKEND: The weather will be warmer over the weekend with highs in the 80s, lows in the 60s. An upper ridge will keep the Deep South dry as the main rain producing systems remain well to the west and north.
Unfortunately there no sign of any significant rain event for Alabama through the next 10-15 days, and drought conditions across the state will intensify. At this point 77 percent of the state is in some kind of drought condition… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
ON THIS DATE IN 1936: A tornado outbreak in the Deep South resulted in a total of 454 deaths and $128 million in damage. During the evening of the 5th, a tornado hit Tupelo, MS, killing 216 persons and damaging infant Elvis Presley’s neighborhood. The next morning, the paths of two tornadoes met about 8:30 AM and cut a swath four blocks wide through Gainesville, GA, killing 203 persons. At least 70 people died in the Cooper Pants Factory, the greatest tornado toll ever for a single building.
In Northwest Alabama a tornado formed from the same storm as the Tupelo F5 and moved through Franklin and Colbert counties. It destroyed or damaged 30 homes in Red Bay, killing four people. Three additional deaths took place in a filling station and a fourth in another home.
ON THIS DATE IN 1953: An F3 tornado moved through parts of McCalla and Bessemer; 12 people were injured.
Look for the next video briefing here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
