ABC 33/40 E-Forecast

ABC 33/40 E-FORECAST
Morning Edition For Friday December 19, 2008
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...Much Colder By Sunday...

TWO MORE WARM DECEMBER DAYS: We will continue to project afternoon
highs in the 70 to 73 degree range across North-Central Alabama today
and tomorrow, almost 20 degrees above average values for mid to late
September. The sky will stay mostly cloudy (although there should be a
few peeks of afternoon sunshine), and mornings will feature fog and
drizzle. Any showers today and tomorrow will be rather widely spaced,
and mainly across the Tennessee Valley.

COLD AIR RETURNS: Look for rain to increase in coverage across Alabama
tomorrow night, in advance of an Arctic front that will blow through
here Sunday morning. Sunday will be a different kind of day as colder
air rolls into Alabama; it will almost be like a slap in the face
compared to the recent warm spell. Temperatures will fall into the 40s
Sunday, possibly reach the 30s during the afternoon hours. The icy
northwest wind will drive the wind chill index below freezing much of
the day for areas along and north of I-20. The rain should end Sunday
morning as the cold air begins to arrive, and clearing should begin at
some point Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening.

Look for a hard freeze Monday morning; we are forecasting an average
low of 21 degrees at daybreak Monday, but the colder spots across
North Alabama will most likely be in the teens. Monday will be sunny
but cold with a high in the low 40s.

MORE CHANGES NEXT WEEK: The upper air pattern is such that cold air
won't stick around Alabama for a long time; we will see a warming
trend beginning Tuesday afternoon, and rain should return to the state
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Then, cooler and drier air will
arrive Wednesday night, setting the stage for a dry and cool Christmas
Day on Thursday. At this time the weather looks mostly sunny for
Christmas Day with a high in the mid 50s, following a morning low near
the freezing mark.

TO THE NORTH: A big time winter storm continues to drop heavy snow and
freezing rain across parts of the Midwest and the Great Lakes region
this morning; the snow total at Chicago is forecast to be near one
foot causing major airport delays. Heavy snow is also likely for
cities like Milwaukee and Detroit. The snow will move into the
Northeast U.S. later today and tonight, and winter storm watches and
warnings cover all of this area. South of the snow, major icing is
likely in the general area from St. Louis to Indianapolis. Thundersnow
was reported last night through parts of Missouri and Iowa. This is
the storm that left 17 inches of snow on the ground at Flagstaff
Airport, in Northern Arizona, and 23 inches on the ground at the North
Rim of the Grand Canyon.

EXTREMES: Warmest places in the nation yesterday were Kingsville,
Texas and Sarasota, Florida with 83 degrees. Bitter cold air continues
over the northern U.S.; cold spots were Cook and Ely; both in
Minnesota, with 27 below zero.

James Spann
jspann@abc3340.com

ABC 33/40 7 Day Planner: http://cfc.abc3340.com/abc3340/7day.cfm
ABC 33/40 Weather Blog: http://www.alabamawx.com

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TODAY
Mostly cloudy and warm. Only a small risk of a shower.
Afternoon High 72
WIND: SW 7-14

SATURDAY
Cloudy with widely scattered showers; rain becoming likely Saturday
night.
Morning Low 58 Afternoon High 71
WIND: SW 10-18

SUNDAY
Breezy and sharply colder. Rain ending during the morning; some
afternoon clearing.
Morning Low 35 Afternoon High 45
WIND: NW 10-20

MONDAY
A hard freeze early in the day. Sunny and cold.
Morning Low 21 Afternoon High 42
WIND: N 6-12

TUESDAY
Increasing clouds. Rain arrives Tuesday night.
Morning Low 30 Afternoon High 53
WIND: S 7-14

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