Rain for Saturday, Then Winter Returns Sunday
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RAIN & A FEW STORMS RETURN: An intensifying area of low pressure will be lifting northeast across the Mississippi Valley tomorrow. Showers and thunderstorms associated with this feature will spread east tonight and will spread rain into the state during the day tomorrow. It won’t rain all day, but there will be periods of rain and a few thunderstorms are possible. In the latest convective outlook for tomorrow, the SPC maintains a “marginal” risk of severe weather for portions of Northwest Alabama, and along the Gulf Coast. Not expecting anything widespread or overly intense, but there could be a few storms possible tomorrow. These storms will have the potential to produce some small hail and gusty winds, but the overall severe weather threat is low with very limited instability values. Most places will see highs in the lower to mid-60s tomorrow afternoon, enjoy the mild temperatures tomorrow, as this will be the last time we see 60s for a while.
WINTER RETURNS: Get ready for cold air to return. As the low pulls to the northeast late tomorrow, a reinforcing shot of cold air moves south, and Sunday looks like a cold and raw day with lingering clouds, a gusty north wind of 10-20 mph, and a little drizzle in spots. In fact, snow flurries are possible over far North Alabama Sunday in the colder air, but no impact from them. Temperatures will fall into the 30s during the day, and the north wind will make it feel colder.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: The National Championship game, Alabama vs Clemson, is Monday at Glendale, Arizona (7:30p CT kickoff). Despite a good bit of rain for Phoenix this week, the weather looks cool and dry for the game with temperatures falling from the mid 50s at kickoff, into the upper 40s by the second half. The stadium has a roof, but it will be pretty chilly walking to and from your transportation.
COLD NEXT WEEK: We are going to start the new work week off very cold with the coldest weather so far this winter. Morning lows Monday and Tuesday will be in the lower and mid-20s. The weather looks generally cold and dry all week. Afternoon highs will remain chilly as 40s and 50s are expected all week. The good news is despite the cold, we are expecting mainly sunny conditions and no threats of winter weather mischief with all the cold air in place. Finally, by late in the week, moisture levels will rise and temperatures will begin to warm some as it looks as though a potent storm system develops to our west and could impact the state next weekend with rain and perhaps a few storms. Behind that system, another round of cold air will be poised to return to the Alabama.
