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RIGHT NOW: A few showers and storms are in progress across our state at mid-afternoon. One small but strong thunderstorm has formed over Shelby County just west of Helena and Alabaster, and some light rain is falling across Tuscaloosa County. Temperatures are in the 70s, and the sky is generally cloudy. The big storms are well to the west over Mississippi generally west of I-55, where a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect.
TONIGHT: The storms over Mississippi should weaken rather quickly once the sun goes down this evening, but we will still see scattered showers and storms statewide tonight. Unfortunately, amounts should be generally light and spotty, with amounts ranging from nothing, to 1/2 inch on the high end. Showers and storms will taper off quickly after midnight.
TOMORROW: A little residual moisture will hang around tomorrow, and you might see a few blips on radar during the day, but the chance of any one spot getting wet tomorrow is only about one in ten. The high will be around 80 degrees in most spots with the sky cloudy at times.
THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Much cooler air invades the state. Highs drop into the 70 to 75 degree range, with early morning lows well down in the 40s by daybreak Friday. The normally colder spots have a good chance of reaching the upper 30s as an autumn chill returns to the state.
FINE FALL WEEKEND: More of the same for Saturday and Sunday. Brilliantly sunny days with highs in the 70s, and clear, crisp nights with lows mostly in the 40s. Perfect for football or anything else outdoors.
NEXT WEEK: The first half of the week will stay dry, but the 12Z GFS is advertising a pretty decent rain event around Thursday, October 21. Then, a high amplitude long wave trough sets up over the eastern U.S., suggesting our weather could be pretty cold for October in the October 22-31 time frame. A very good chance we will see widespread frost on multiple mornings, with a freeze a real possibility along the way.
PAULA GETTING STRONGER: Hurricane Paula is now packing sustained winds of 100 mph over the western Caribbean, but the system should weaken later this week as dry air becomes entrained in the circulation, and stronger winds aloft begin to impact the system. Steering currents remain weak, and Paula will probably hang around the Northwest Caribbean for the next 5 days. This one should not be an issue for the Central Gulf Coast.
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I had a great time today visiting with the senior adults at First Baptist Church of Leeds… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow…
