It is a beautiful day across North and North Central Alabama. Skies have cleared completely are at least for the most part as far south as a line from about Reform to Birmingham to Jacksonville. South of that, it was still cloudy, but radars were quiet across Alabama.
10 a.m. temperatures were in the middle 50s across the I-20 corridor. Highs today will top out around 60 degrees. Temperatures will not drop very much tonight, remaining in the 50s.
Showers were already starting to break out to the west though, over Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi as the frontal system is starting to turn around in preparation of coming back north as a warm front. Light rain was being reported this hour at Jackson.
Clouds were beginning to spread northeastward again over Central Mississippi and clear areas will cloud up again this afternoon. Showers will be on the increase by late in the day as the front comes back northward. Showers will be likely overnight. Rainfall amounts will be light, generally less than a tenth of an inch.
We should start the day cloudy on Friday, but the sun will break through and it will be a fabulous afternoon with temperatures in the 70s and a breezy south wind. There could be a shower since we will be in an increasing warm advection pattern, but rainfall does not look widespread or significant.
That will change by Saturday night.
The 12z run of the GFS Is out far enough to see into next week, and no significant changes are seen in the forecast.
Saturday will see a screaming warm advection pattern with strong southerly winds averaging over 20 mph at times. Temperatures should rise into the middle 70s. 60 degree dewpoints will move all the way into the Ohio Valley, setting the stage for another severe weather event. While areas west of Alabama will be most likely to see severe weather, it is possible over the northwestern half of Alabama by late Saturday afternoon and into Saturday night.
The front should clear the area early Sunday with seasonable conditions into early next week. The next chance of rain will come Wednesday and Thursday, perhaps into Friday.
