WBRC Weather

Freeze Warning Tonight

(Bright Blue-Freeze Warning/Darker Blue-Frost Advisory)

A freeze warning is in effect for parts of our area tonight. Here are the details from the National Weather Service:

...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM CDT
SATURDAY...

THE WARNED AREA IS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A OF A VERNON...
TO PINSON...TO HEFLIN LINE.

* TEMPERATURES...WILL RANGE FROM 30 TO 34 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
  ACROSS THE WARNED COUNTIES...WITH THE LOWEST READINGS EXPECTED
  IN SHELTERED VALLEYS.

* IMPACTS...PREMATURELY BUDDING PLANTS...SHRUBS...AND TREES WILL
  BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THESE COLD TEMPERATURES AND MAY SUFFER FROST
  DAMAGE AND COULD BE KILLED IF LEFT UNPROTECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR
HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER
SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

In addition to the Freeze Warning, a frost advisory will be in place for the entire area. Protect the plants!

Wes Wyatt

Fox 6 Meteorologist

wwyatt@wbrc.com

A Cold Thursday Morning

Good morning from the NWA Meeting. Its been great seeing our future forecasters providing daily weather briefings each morning. Its a cold morning across the area, check out the following low temperature reports: 

• Birmingham 47
• Oxford 44
• Talladega 46
• Alabaster 41
• Ragland 45
• Oakman 41
• Centre 38
• Coker 49
• Concord/Hueytown 43
• Tuscaloosa 47
• Anniston 47
• Calera 46 

The student coverings today's weather briefing was Lamont Bain from the University of Alabama Huntsville.

Wes Wyatt

Fox 6 Meteorologist

wwyatt@wbrc.com 

The Cold Air is Rolling in!

Good morning from the National Weather Association 36th Annual Meeting! This is day number five of the big event. Tomorrow morning the NWA conference ends however many meteorologists will stay in town for the GOES Users’ Conference that continues through Friday. Each day its been great seeing students, our future meteorologists, giving a morning forecast briefing. The big talk this morning was about the amplified pattern that has developed across the country. Simply put, the cold air flow is in full effect here in Alabama! 

First Freeze? It sure looks like the weather pattern is about to get a bit more active as we head towards November. A big dip in the jet stream may happen around October 28th/29th and this could bring our first freeze of the fall 2011 season. 

Wes Wyatt

Fox 6 Meteorologist

wwyatt@wbrc.com

 

Good Morning - It's a Bit Chilly

Good morning!  The temperatures are a bit colder this morning with most locations in the lower to mid 40s.  We're not expecting much of a warm up later today.  In fact, with the clouds and the wind - it's going to be pretty uncomfortable if you aren't prepared with the light jacket or sweater.

Since we're behind the cold front, temperatures will struggle to reach the mid 50s this afternoon.  We can expect winds to be out of the northwest and blustery at between 15-20mph.  High pressure and drier air will eventually wipe away most of the cloud cover later tonight.

I'm pretty confident we'll see some frost in the forecast by Friday morning with lows in the mid to upper 30s and calm winds.  The weekend will be dry with great looking weather for race weekend at 'Dega!

The longer range forecast looks like below average temperatures for the next couple of weeks.

James-Paul Dice
Fox 6 Chief Meteorologist
james.dice@wbrc.com 

Forecast is Cooler

We started the day with some patchy dense fog, but by the afternoon sunshine prevailed with warm temperaturs in the 80s. 

 

 

 

Now - bit change is coming.  It's really going to feel like Fall soon!  A weak cool front will move through Alabama tonight.  The air mass is dry so we will not see any rain and probably very few clouds.  Temperatures by Friday morning will fall to about 58 degrees.  You'll notice a north wind through the day and this will help usher in some much colder air.  Expect highs Friday in the mid 70s.  If you have plans for a high school football game - expect much cooler temperatures.  A light jacket will be required.

High pressure will dictate our weather through the weekend.  The biggest change over the weekend will be temperatures in the mid to upper 40s.  No rain is expected through next week.

Have a great evening!

James-Paul Dice
Fox 6 Chief Meteorologist
james.dice@wbrc.com

Clouds Hang On!!!

This is what we call an IFR day!  That's a little pilot talk.  The low-level moisture has lingered behind the front.  It looks like the cloud deck is here to stay at least for tonight.  We'll probably get some clearing tomorrow, but clouds will likely return through tomorrow evening.  What about rain?  Rain chances will be non-existent at least through next Tuesday.  We're in a cool, dry, and "Fallish" weather pattern.  Weather for high school football games looks cool and cloudy.  I would suggest a light jacket - especially by 4th quarter when temperatures will be in the lower 60s with a north breeze. 

 
 

While I think we'll see some sunshine this weekend, it looks like clouds will linger to the east.  Folks in Anniston, Gadsden, Heflin, and Talladega should not expect widespread sunshine through the weekend.

James-Paul Dice
Fox 6 Chief Meteorologist
james.dice@wbrc.com

Weekend Forecast

It's been a busy week with the remnants of Lee Monday and its aftermath.  Between the tropics and the football forecasts - it's hard to everything in within the time contraints of 3 minutes and 3 seconds.  You probably didn't know this, but I have to get a puff of oxygen after I do the weather.  Just kidding, but sometimes I talk so fast - it's almost necessary.  I wanted to devote some time to the weekend forecast.

While we're in for some warm temperatures, I do not think we'll see much rainfall.  The GFS really tried to push some moisture in here on Sunday from Nate.  Our VIPIR model was even buying into it today.  But - I don't think this will be the case.  Nate will likely make a bit of a northerly turn, but I don't think it will have any impact on Alabama.

 

We do have a trough that will move through Saturday evening through Sunday morning.  This will likely increase our cloud cover a bit late in the day Saturday.  We might even see a few showers (less than 20%) Saturday night into Sunday.  Temperatures will remain in the mid 80s through the weekend with morning lows around 58.

 
The week ahead looks very dry.  Highs will remain in the 80s with another dose of cooler air by the end of the week.  High pressure will build in behind our next system with plenty of sunshine expected for the following weekend.  At this point, highs in the 70s might be in store for next weekend.

James-Paul Dice
Fox 6 Chief Meteorologist
james.dice@wbrc.com

 

 

Rain Relief and Cooler Temps

We've been talking about a low pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico for a few days now.  It's unlikely we'll see anything develop from this low in terms of a tropical cyclone, but the good news the low will bring us some well-needed rain.  We have rainfall deficits around 10" in parts of Central Alabama - especially south of I-20 so this is welcome news.   The low will begin to spread rainfall from the south on Sunday and most likely on Monday.  The best chances of rain will be in our southernmost counties.  Below is the GFS plot for Monday indicating a good chance of rain.

 
Next Week:
In addition, a cool front will move across the area Monday.  The front will mean a few showers and thunderstorms (especially in North Alabama) and perhaps a taste of Fall.  Highs next week will likely be in the upper 80s to lower 90s with a nice dry air mass in place.  High pressure will build in behind the front most likely leaving us with some additional dry weather.  The Climate Prediction Center is indicating slightly cooler than average temperatures for the next 8-14 days.

 

James-Paul Dice
Fox 6 Chief Meteorologist
james.dice@wbrc.com

 

 

 

Frosty Overnight

 
There is one bit of weather advice I have always believed in while growing up in the great state of Alabama and that is to always plant after Good Friday. I clearly remember a snow event taking place on April 8^th one year. Tonight will be one of those cooler periods as lows will take a tumble into the middle 30s. The winds should relax and set the stage for prime time cooling. We don’t expect freezing temperatures area-wide, but there is a good chance we will have some frost rooftops early tomorrow morning. Just to be on the safe side you may want to cover those plants, especially if you live in a cooler valley. In the meantime, a northwest breeze continues across the area today, with a sunny sky overhead. Mickey will have a forecast update coming up on Fox 6 news at noon.

Wes Wyatt

Fox 6 Meteorologist

wwyatt@wbrc.com  

Warm Temps and Dry Skies

The temperature reached 80 this afternoon in Birmingham.  The normal or average high is 68.  It looks like tomorrow will be a bit warmer.  The main issue tonight will be a few areas of patchy fog.  We are expecting a few changes this week as a cool front moves through the region on Wednesday.  Clouds will be on the increase with a few showers in the forecast by the afternoon.  We're not expecting any severe weather because the dynamics will remain to our north.  In fact, I'm not overaly impressed with the rainfall amounts.  Temperatures behind the front will fall into the mid to upper 70s for the rest of the work week.  A stronger system will impact us by the weekend.  This system will likely bring some stronger storms to the area late Saturday.  If you have weekend plans - the best chance of rain will be after sunset Saturday with a few storms lingering through Sunday morning.

The longer range forecast is indicating some cooler than normal temperatures next week.
 

We'll keep you posted. 

James-Paul Dice
Fox 6 Chief Meteorologist
james.dice@wbrc.com