Warm-up Just Around the Corner

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

My headline talks about a warm-up but it is quite nippy out there this morning. Scroll down to see JB's early morning post about temperatures. I just love to see the weather in action as with the inversion present giving the higher elevations of Mt. Cheaha a warmer temperature than the lower locations - exact opposite of what you might think.

But a warm-up is in store for us as the high pressure center over the southeastern US slides slowly east today and daytimes remain sunny. We should see temperatures climb into the 50s today, Friday, and Saturday with some places especially south of Birmingham pushing the 60-degree mark Friday and Saturday.

A low forms in the south central US and drags a cold front across Alabama Saturday and Saturday night. The front will usher in colder and dryer air for Christmas day. As the low moves by to the north of Alabama, we may see some wrap-around clouds with the possibility of some snow flurries. But timing of the cold air arrival as the moisture departs is always tricky.

As the westerlies retreat northward on Monday we should see another warm-up with temperatures once again climbing into 50s for highs.

Long range model guidance suggests the overall pattern will not be changing much as the long wave trough position remains anchored over the east coast while vigorous short waves traveling through the flow reinforce the cold air every couple of days. Early January shows signs of starting wet, but that is a long way out to be very specific.

Hope you have a great end to the week. James will be posting the afternoon map discussion around 3:30 pm.

-Brian-