Cloudy To Start Your Saturday, But Will End Up Wet.
The morning will start off partly to mostly cloudy across Central Alabama for your Saturday, and rain chances will start to move into the western counties by the 7-9AM time frame. Those rain chances will increase from the west to the east throughout the late morning and afternoon hours, and rain will be likely for the late evening and overnight hours. Afternoon highs will be rather cool across the area, with 40s for most areas north of I-59 and I-20/59, with 50s along and south of those interstates. Overnight lows will be in the 40s across the area.
The European model is showing rainfall totals ranging from less than 1/10th of an inch for the southeastern parts of the area, to totals just over 3/4 of an inch throughout the entire day up to midnight. The GFS is very similar in its totals as well, with the only exception being that some totals in the northwestern parts of the are could get 1 inch of rain. So areas near the GA/AL state line south of I-20 expected rain totals should be around 0.2 of an inch or less, around or just less than 0.5 inches in the Birmingham area, and western counties ranging from 0.4 to 0.75 inches.
Birmingham’s Climatology And Records
The normal high for December 3rd is 59, while the normal low is 38. The record high for today was set back in 1982 at 76. The record low was set back in 1929 at 13.
A Wet And Cool Sunday To End The Weekend
Another day with beneficial rain for the drought-stricken Central Alabama area. Skies will be cloudy with rain likely throughout the daytime and evening hours. Afternoon highs will only be in the 40s across the area, with overnight lows hovering pretty close to the same temperature. More impressive rainfall totals throughout the 24-hour period on Sunday, with some in the eastern parts of the area getting 2 inches or over, with totals closer to 1 inch for the Birmingham area, and closer to 0.5 inches in the western parts of the area.
Strong Storms Possible For The Beginning Of The Work Week
A low pressure system is expected to form off of the Texas coast and will lift north across the southeastern United States, bringing with it another round of strong storms into the area for late Monday and into early Tuesday. By the time the rain is finished on Tuesday afternoon and evening, rainfall totals for much of the area will be well over 2 inches, with a few spots getting close to 4 inches. We do need every drop, but unfortunately some flash flooding could be possible with all of the heavy rainfall. We will start to dry out by the time Tuesday evening arrives. Highs will be in the 50s and 60s across the area on Monday, and back up into the 60s for Tuesday.
”Hump Day” Through Friday
An arctic cold front will move through the area late on Wednesday, and may bring with it a chance for a few showers. Then mostly sunny with a slight chance for a shower or two will be possible during the day on Thursday before we’re back to sunny skies on Friday. The one thing that you will notice will be the drastic drop in temperatures for Thursday and Friday. Highs will be in the 60s for Wednesday, then dropping way back into the 40s and 50s on Thursday, then 30s and 40s for Friday.
A Look At Rain Totals For The Next 15 Days
GFS model guidance out to 15 days from now (12/18) has much of the area picking up over 4 inches of rain during this time period, with a few spots showing almost up to 5.5 inches. That will not end the drought conditions for Central Alabama, but that will definitely put a Deontay Wilder fist-sized dent into the drought.
Headed To The Beach
Clouds and rain return tomorrow and these stick around through the middle part of the week. Highs are in the 60s, while lows are in the upper 40s and lower 50s from Gulf Shores to Panama City Beach. See a very detailed Gulf Coast forecast here.
Tropical Update
Good news, the tropics are all quiet at this time, and development is not expected for the next 5 days. This will be the last update on the tropics from me until late Spring of 2017, unless something develops. The Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to November 30th.
On This Day In 1989
Heavy snow and high winds created blizzard conditions in northern New England. Snowfall totals in Maine ranged up to 31 inches, at Limestone. Presque Isle ME reported a record 30 inches of snow in 24 hours, along with wind gusts to 46 mph.
Central Alabama Weather 