A BEAUTIFUL MONDAY SO FAR:
Skies across Central Alabama at 11:30 AM are clear except for a few fair-weather cumulus clouds floating over the northern part of the area. With these clear skies that translates to no rain on the radar. At the Birmingham Airport, this will be the 15th consecutive day without a single drop of rain in the bucket.
For the remainder of the day, the sun will be out in full-force, with only a few clouds dotting the sky. Afternoon highs will be in the mid 80s for the most part, with a few upper 80s in the southern part of the area. Winds will be out of the northeast at 5-10 MPH. Tonight, we will have clear skies with overnight lows ranging from the mid 50s to the low 60s.
AIR QUALITY ALERT TODAY:
Ozone and Particulate Matter 2.5 levels will be high enough to raise the “Code Yellow” Air Quality Alert for the Birmingham metropolitan area today. Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
TEMPERATURES ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA AT THIS HOUR:
Birmingham 81
Tuscaloosa 82
Gadsden 79
Anniston 81
Cullman 77
Alexander City 82
Auburn 82
Selma 81
Montgomery 81
NORMS AND RECS FOR TODAY IN BIRMINGHAM:
The normal high for October 3rd is 80, while the normal low is 57. The record high for today was set back in 1911 at 93. The record low was set back in 1974 at 35.
TOMORROW’S FORECAST:
Except for the lower humidity levels, tomorrow will feel like we’ve stepped back into the summertime. The good news is that these temperatures will only last for one day. Skies will be sunny and afternoon highs will be in the upper 80s, with a few places reaching 90 degrees. Dewpoints will be in the upper 50s, and winds will be out of the southeast at 5-10 MPH. That will at least make tomorrow feel comfortable.
HEADED TO THE BEACH:
Mostly sunny days, fair nights on the coast through the weekend with showers almost impossible to find from Panama City Beach over to Gulf Shores. Highs in the 80s.
THE TROPICS:
Major Hurricane Matthew is moving northward, slowly at 6 mph, toward Haiti and the eastern part of Cuba. Hurricane warnings are in effect for Jamaica, eastern Cuba, Haiti, and the Southeast Bahamas. Sustained winds are at 140 mph, making Matthew a category four. Longer range guidance shows Matthew coming dangerously close to the North Carolina outer banks late in the week; interests along the U.S. Atlantic coast will need to keep a close eye on this dangerous storm. It will not impact the Gulf of Mexico in any way.
ON THIS DAY IN 1986:
Remnants of Hurricane Paine deluged Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas with 6 to 10 inch overnight rains. Hardy, OK, was drenched with 21.79 inches. Heavy rain between September 26th and October 4th caused 350 million dollars damage in Oklahoma.
Central Alabama Weather 