7:50PM January 31, 2019

WHO IS READY FOR WARMER WEATHER? Ready or not, slightly warmer air will dominate our weather pattern over the next 7-10 days. One metric of longer term weather trends is the 6-10 day probability outlook issued by NOAA everyday. This outlook has consistently indicated that a pattern shift is about to happen for much of the eastern United States, including Alabama and northwest Florida.

NEXT WEEK: WET & WARMER… Monday through Thursday of the upcoming week will feature high temperatures well into the 70s with overnight lows in the 50s and 60s. There also will be numerous showers and potentially some thunderstorms around as well.

WINTER NOT OVER YET… There will inevitably be some more shots of cold air before the end of the winter season, with the next one most likely coming in late next week when temperatures will nosedive yet again. Despite several cold shots of air, we’ve actually been slightly warmer this January than January 2018. The first week of February will be much warmer than the analog from last year as well. Beyond that, plenty of uncertainty. It’s normal to have variability like these up-and-down temperature trends this time of year. That’s part of winter in the Deep South… Snow possbilities one week followed by temperatures near 70°. We’ll trend toward the latter (with no sign of snow in sight!) over the next week!

My next forecast video will be posted by 7:15AM on Friday. See you then!

Tap below to support this RZW sponsor!

6:52AM January 31, 2019

COOL, CALM THURSDAY; RAIN RETURNS THIS WEEKEND… We’re done with subfreezing temperatures for awhile after this morning as we continue on a warming trend that will last into early next week. Partly cloudy skies are on tap for the last day of January across south Alabama and northwest Florida. High temperatures will reach the mid- to upper-50s by 2PM. Rain chances will increase slightly this weekend ahead of what could be a couple of weeks of above-average temperatures. Let’s talk details…

MAINLY DRY FRIDAY… Overnight lows by 6AM Friday will be in the mid-30s but vast majority of us should stay above the 32° freezing mark. We quickly warm into the 50s by late morning with afternoon highs peaking in the low-60s on Friday afternoon. There could be a few small rain showers, especially near the coast after 4PM on Friday. Vast majority of us will be dry until Saturday.

RAIN CHANCES INCREASE THIS WEEKEND… In addition to temperatures rising to above-normal values, rain chances will increase to 20% and 30% respectively for Saturday and Sunday. This is largely because our surface-level flow will be from the south. Warm, Gulf air will be moist and supportive for a few showers. High temperatures will approach the 70 degree mark on Sunday under mostly cloudy skies.

FEW STORMS POSSIBLE NEXT WEEK… Scattered showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage across the region early next week. Depending on how different shortwave troughs and other larger scale atmospheric features evolve, there could be a severe weather risk at some point next week. It’s entirely too early to try to nail down specifics. Anytime we have high temperatures in the 70s in February, you can just about bet that there won’t be storms far behind. We’ll keep you posted about this over the next few days in the RedZone Weather app.

See all the details, including a graphical look at the next 7 days, in your Thursday #rzw forecast video… Have a great day!

Tap below to support this RZW sponsor!

6:53AM January 30, 2019

COLD WEDNESDAY; MUCH WARMER THIS WEEKEND… Most spots are starting in the 20s this morning across the interior of south Alabama. We will rise into the upper-40s this afternoon and some spots will hit the low-50s for high temperatures later today. We’ll have a mix of sun and passing clouds throughout the day. Our next rain chance happens late Saturday into Sunday. Let’s talk details…

ANOTHER COLD NIGHT AHEAD… Overnight lows will again be in the mid- to upper-20s across our region by 6AM on Thursday. Mostly clear skies are expected overnight, which will allow any daytime heat to quickly escape into the atmosphere early on in the night. Keep the jackets handy if you have to be outside tonight into Thursday.

MAINLY SUNNY ON THURSDAY & FRIDAY… Plenty of sunshine is expected both on Thursday and on Friday. High temperatures will be around 60 degrees on Thursday, rising to around 65 on Friday. Overnight lows will also be on the upward trend.

NEXT CHANCE OF RAIN: THIS WEEKEND… Isolated rain showers will return to our area late in the day on Saturday ahead of more pronounced rain chances Sunday into Monday as a warm, southerly wind off the Gulf of Mexico takes hold of our local weather pattern. Temperatures will reach 70 degrees by Sunday afternoon with overnight lows in the 50s for early next week. For now, severe weather parameters remain very low. We’ll keep you posted if that changes.

Let me know if you have any weather-related questions. Have a great Wednesday!

Tap below to support this RZW sponsor!