Storms Late Today, Active Pattern Ahead
A deep surface low will be tracking from the Dakotas into southern Canada. A trailing cold front will swing through the Southeast and is causing showers and storms to move through and these will move into Alabama later today. A few strong storms are certainly possible late this afternoon and evening, with gusty winds, but it still does not look like much of a severe weather threat for South/Central Alabama, with the main dynamic support and surface low well to the north. More beneficial rain is expected, with rainfall totals around one-half to one inch is possible.
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY: The front will push out of Alabama overnight and a drier air mass will settle into the state for these two days. Both days will feature more sun than clouds with lows in the 40s, and highs in the lower 70s. Very nice weather for the second week of March!
FRIDAY: Moist air returns, and we will have the risk of a few scattered showers and possibly a thunderstorm with a high around 70 degrees with an upper-level feature that works rapidly across the Southeast. Severe weather is not expected, and this feature will exit rapidly Friday night.
WEEKEND WEATHER: The latest GFS shows showers and storms will be more likely Saturday and into Sunday. An area of low pressure will move out of the Southern Plains and into the Southeast. It will be accompanied by a cold front and we could have to deal with some strong storms late Saturday, and we will need to monitor parameters for severe weather potential. The front should swing through the state Sunday, and cooler, drier air returns to the state. The sky becomes mostly sunny, and the high will fall back into the 60s.
INTO NEXT WEEK: Monday looks cool, dry, but the 12Z GFS shows another round of rain and storms moving into and through Alabama Tuesday. A break in the action Wednesday, then yet another storm system possible Thursday. Of course these systems are still too far out, but certainly something to watch as we are heading into a more active storm pattern for Alabama, as we roll into the heart of our spring severe weather season.
Have a terrific Tuesday!
Ryan
