STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE TO OUR NORTH ON SATURDAY; FEW SHOWERS TODAY… The first day of 2022 will feature a low-end severe weather risk across south Alabama and northwest Florida with a more significant risk setting up to our north. Before we get to the New Year, today, scattered showers will be possible across the local area. A few, general thunderstorms may be possible as well. Fortunately, severe storms are not expected locally today. High temperatures will be in the low-80s today. Cooler air is set to arrive on Sunday, however, with a return to seasonal temperatures early next week. All of your Friday morning forecast notes are below.

ISOLATED SHOWERS AT TIMES TODAY; QUITE WARM… Temperatures will remain quite warm today, with most spots having a high temperature at or near 80 degrees. A few scattered showers will be possible throughout the day and I can’t completely rule out a few thunderstorms. Severe weather is not expected locally on this Friday, however. There is a severe weather risk well to our north across parts of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky today.

MIDNIGHT FORECAST: MOSTLY DRY; A FEW SHOWERS POSSIBLE… Most communities will be dry tonight as we ring in the Year 2022. I cannot completely rule out a few showers at midnight, although I expect any showers to be few and far between. Temperatures at midnight will be around 71 degrees.

LEVEL 2 (OUT OF 5) RISK TO OUR NORTH ON SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY MORNING… The Storm Prediction Center continues to include much of the northern half of Alabama in their Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk valid for Saturday into Sunday morning. These are the zones where scattered severe storms, including a few tornadoes, may be possible. This zone currently includes Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Auburn, Lake Martin, Demopolis, Selma, Talladega, Gadsden, Anniston, Cullman, Jasper, Fayette, Aliceville, Livingston, Greensboro, Decatur, Florence, Huntsville, and Hamilton. Much of northern Mississippi, northern Georgia, Tennessee, far western North Carolina, eastern Arkansas, and northern Louisiana are involved in this expansive Level 2 (out of 5) risk zone.

LOW-END SEVERE WEATHER RISK LOCALLY SATURDAY NIGHT… South Alabama and Northwest Florida remain involved in the low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) severe weather risk valid for Saturday into early Sunday. This will be a similar risk zone to what happened on Wednesday into Thursday (when nothing significant happened across the local area). Keep in mind, this scenario may be a bit different from what happened midweek with more storms being possible. Tornadoes CAN happen on Level 1, low-end risk days, but generally speaking, that is more of the anomaly than the trend. Gusty winds will likely be the main concern Saturday night as a weakening line of storms moves across our area.

MUCH COOLER AIR ARRIVES SUNDAY… The cold front that will be sparking off the severe weather issues likely to happen to our north on Saturday into Saturday night will ultimately cross our area from northwest to southeast on Sunday. Breezy (15-25 mph winds) conditions are expected throughout the day on Sunday as cooler air filters in from the north. Showers will continue to be possible Sunday, particularly in the morning but also perhaps in the afternoon hours across communities farther to the east in our local area. Temperatures will likely be in the 60s for much of the day Sunday before falling into the 30s (and even 20s inland) on early Monday morning.

TEMPS BELOW FREEZING MONDAY MORNING… Overnight lows on Monday morning will be in the low-30s across much of the area. We note that upper-20s will be possible in communities along and north of U.S. Highway 84 in parts of Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, and Covington counties.

NICE, SEASONAL DAYS EARLY NEXT WEEK… The cold air intrusion into our area will not last too long as high temperatures are set to return to the 60s by midweek. Overnight lows will rise from the 30s Monday morning to the upper-40s by Thursday morning.

APP… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.

See all the details in your New Year’s Eve Friday #rzw forecast video. Have a great day and a safe New Year’s Eve tonight!