It is a miserable night across much of North and Central Alabama with strong easterly winds and a shield of widespread rain.
Across Central Alabama, temperatures are in the middle 40s to near 50 degrees. Dewpoints are on the increase. Winds are are out of the east at 10-15 mph with gusts occasionally above 25 mph.
The barometer is falling quickly. It is down to 29.83 at Birmingham. The lowest pressure reading I can find is 29.59 at Baton Rouge.
That initial shield of rain now is lifting north and east of the Birmingham area.
A second band of moderate to occasionally heavy rain is lifting north and eastward across Southeast Mississippi and Southwest Alabama. It is increasing in coverage and intensity.
Rainfall amounts have been light so far. Up to an inch of rain has fallen over parts of Marengo and Choctaw Counties so far, with similar amounts over Southeast Alabama. Elsewhere, amounts have been far lighter.
Our low pressure center is back near Alexandria, Louisiana late tonight. Widespread rain and storms are concentrated around this center. My morning, the low will be near Meridian and by noon, it will be near Huntsville.
Moisture will continue to wraparound the low during the afternoon into the overnight hours. The models continue to point to a cold upper trough rotating through the area overnight, possibly changing the light rain to light snow over the northern half of the state. No accumulations are expected on roads, although there could be a little accumulation on grassy areas and cars.
We will have to wait and see what happens, but for now, enjoy the sound of the wind and rain.
Merry Christmas from the entire team at ABC3340 and The Weather Company!
– Bill
