A large, but weak surface low was crossing US-78 in Northwest Alabama late this morning, heading slowly northeast. It had the requisite cold front in tow to its south. Ahead of the front, some moderate to heavy showers were lined up and marching east and southeastward. Ahead of the low, widespread light rain was occurring.
This surface low is the player in our weather for today. Rain will end from the west as the low and cold front pass your location. The back edge of the rain extended from about Anniston to Alabaster to Moundville.
Clouds are thick all the way back to eastern Oklahoma with the little circles on the station plots a solid black until you get to the Tulsa area.
A few light showers were showing up on radar over western Tennessee on the back side of the low. It will remain mostly cloudy through the overnight, with a few rogue showers possible this afternoon. Highs in the southwest parts of the area will be in the lower 60s, while the eastern sections stay in the lower 50s. Middle 50s in the middle.
Disturbances will slide along the boundary to our south, and will spread waves of rain over South Alabama through Monday morning. The northern extent of some of this rain could back up into Central Alabama through the weekend, leading to more periods of rain. I still think the trend for North Central Alabama is drier, but we will have to keep an eye to the south just in case. Between waves, there could be a little sun on Sunday.
RAINFALL
Light to moderate rain was widespread across North and Central Alabama overnight. Despite the extent of the rain, amounts were not excessive. The only places that came close were over West Central Alabama where Doppler radar estimates paint a three inch picture between Columbus MS and Ethelsville. One and a half inches or more may have fallen in an area over southern Lamar and northern Pickens Counties. Other amounts through 9 a.m. included 0.66 at Birmingham, 0.77 at Tuscaloosa and 0.18 at Anniston. 1.76 fell at Muscle Shoals. UPDATE: as of 11 a.m., the Birmingham rain total stood at 0.76, which is exactly normal for the year. Did you feel normal about then?
