RADAR CHECK: The risk of severe thunderstorms has ended for Alabama; the line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved out of the southeast corner of the state shortly after 5:00 a.m. Light rain still covers much of East and South Alabama just before daybreak… that rain will be out of the state soon. Today will be breezy and cooler with a clearing sky; temperatures won’t get out of the 50s across North Alabama this afternoon despite the return of sunshine.
FROST? Tonight will be clear and cold. Temperatures will drop into the 30s over the northern third of the state early tomorrow morning where some scattered frost is possible. South Alabama will drop into the 40s.
Tomorrow and Saturday will feature sunshine in full supply with a warming trend. Highs tomorrow will be in the 65-75 degree range; the high Saturday afternoon will be between 73 and 83 degrees. Sunday will be partly sunny and warm… moisture levels will begin to rise but we expect only isolated afternoon showers. Most of the state will be dry with highs in the 70s and 80s.
NEXT WEEK: A sharp cold front will bring rain into the state after midnight Sunday night into Monday morning. Moisture will be limited; rain amounts should be a quarter inch or less for most places. Much colder air will follow the front; highs will be in the upper 40s across the Tennessee Valley both Monday and Tuesday.
A late season freeze is likely for the northern 2/3 of the state Tuesday morning with lows between 24 and 34 degrees. Another freeze is likely early Wednesday across North Alabama. Then, a warming trend begins Wednesday afternoon, and highs return to the 70s by Friday. After the rain Monday morning the week will be rain-free… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
ON THIS DATE IN 1993: The generational “Blizzard of 93” was underway. All 67 Alabama counties had measurable snow; winds gusted to nearly hurricane force on ridges with white out conditions, snow amounts of 1 to 2 feet were common over the northern half of the state, with drifts to 4 feet. There was a lot of eerie green lightning followed by the muffled sound of thunder during the peak of the storm. With the atmosphere overloaded with big snowflakes, part of the sound of thunder was absorbed.
Some had no power for over a week. We forecast 6 to 16 inches of snow going into the event, but many didn’t listen since it was mid-March, the flowers were blooming, and the high on March 10, 1993 (two days before the blizzard) was 75. The storm dropped 13 inches at the Birmingham International Airport, where the records are kept, and almost two feet of snow across parts of southern Jefferson and northern Shelby counties.
The heaviest snow across the Southeast U.S. was recorded was at Newfound Gap, where U.S. 441 crosses the Tennessee and North Carolina border, with five feet.
Look for the next video briefing here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
