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I think temperatures across Central Alabama this morning which were running from the upper 20s to the lower 30s will still qualify as cold and shivery. But as I noted yesterday, clouds with the weak area of disturbed weather off to the southwest of us played a role in keeping temperatures a few degrees warmer thus saving us from the expected record cold. And I have high hopes that the peach trees weathered several hours of freezing temperatures without any serious damage. Temperatures across the Tennesee Valley where no clouds were present certainly illustrated the potential with readings in the mid 20s.
It was interesting to look at the temperature trace from my weather equipment. The temperature was falling very steadily from my high around 4 pm. But the temperature drop ceased just before 3 am when it seems apparent that the clouds arrived. So the impact of a few clouds was enough to keep temperatures from plunging well below freezing.
We’ll probably have one more chilly morning Monday before the warming sets in for milder temperatures at the middle of the week. Along with milder temperatures will come some good chances for rain. The pattern is not nearly as clear as it appeared yesterday, but it still looks like an open Gulf and a storm system off to our northwest will bring chances for rain and perhaps a thunderstorm late Tuesday and Wednesday.
The rain clears out for Thursday with weak ridging aloft before the Gulf opens up once again on Friday ahead of the next system. The Storm Prediction Center has removed their 4 to 8 day outlook for severe weather due to major uncertainties in the now diverging model solutions. It still appears that some threat of severe weather may exist on Friday and Saturday, so we’ll continue to watch how that evolves as the events get closer. Sure looks like we should see two rain events in this coming week – one late Tuesday and Wednesday and another late Friday and Saturday.
By Sunday and Monday we come under ridging aloft and a surface high which will bring a slight cool down but nothing as cold as we’ve seen over the last couple of days.
Casting into the future, the GFS continues to depict a rather fast moving flow with storm systems on a regular basis. Around 372 hours or Monday, April 23rd, there is a hint at another cold spell but not as significant as this one. But that is really deep into voodoo territory.
I hope everyone has a great Easter Sunday. Be sure to spend some time with family and friends and enjoy the blessings that they bring to our lives. God bless.
-Brian-
