Cold Weather For Another Day

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Back from church this morning, so the video map discussion should be posted in a few minutes. Really cold this morning as that cold, dry air filtered southward last night. 25 degrees for the low at my house and Brimingham down to 22 for the coldest reading of the current winter season. Fortunately, with dewpoints falling last night and only a few sprinkles there were no icing issues from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Anniston. All of the problems were confined to the mixed precipitation that fell yesterday morning and early afternoon along the Tennessee River Valley counties. And with a little sunshine as they get some breaks in the clouds this morning, perhaps the ice will have an opportunity to melt. Of course, that intoduces another problem that any water on the highways this evening when the sun goes down could turn to ice very quickly creating patchy but dangerous driving problems. Just try to take it easy if you have to be out.

Models are in fairly good agreement during the short term with slow moderation of the air mass and two bands of precipitation, one over Tennessee/Kentucky and one mainly across the southern half of Alabama. With the cold temperatures in Kentucky and Tennessee it could mean travel problems for them, but hopefully temperatures will get above freezing for our area before the precip becomes significant.

Those breaks in the clouds will help some spots warm a couple of extra degrees. However, if your area stays under the clouds today, don't expect to see temperatures climb much higher than the mid or upper 30s.

The wet pattern continues through the middle of week until Thursday when an upper level trough finally makes its way across the southeast. Timing the rain chances will be tricky, as I don't expect to see rain from Monday through Thursday - just off and on periods of light rain with perhaps some thunder possible Wednesday and Thursday with the trough passing.

Friday dries out here, but the model suggests a change from a zonal flow pattern to a higher amplitude pattern and with it some more cold weather for next weekend. However there does not appear to be moisture with it so I'm not looking for any winter weather threats outside of cold temperatures.

Longer range GFS still suggesting a stormy start to March - something to watch as the GFS has been consistent with that for the last several model runs.

Stay warm for another couple of days as we look for slow moderation to the air mass. But definitely don't be putting those winter clothese away! Have a great Sunday.

-Brian-