RADAR CHECK: A band of storms continues to push through South Alabama early this morning; a tornado warning was in effect for parts of northern Baldwin County just before sunrise. SPC maintains a "slight risk" (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms for the southeast corner of Alabama this morning, including places like Dothan, Ozark, Geneva, and Abbeville.
Storms will end over South Alabama by mid-morning... for the rest of the state today will be mostly sunny, breezy, and cooler with temperatures falling into the 50s over the northern counties. South Alabama will see sunshine this afternoon with temperatures in the 60s. Tonight will be clear and cold with a freeze for the northern half of the state... expect a low early tomorrow between 26 and 32 degrees there. Then, during the day tomorrow, the sky will be sunny with a high in the 50s... South Alabama will see a high in the 60s.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Friday will feature a partly to mostly sunny sky with a high in the 60s. Then, on Saturday, a cold front will bring showers to the state. This won't be an all-day kind of rain or a wash-out, but just be ready for occasional showers if you have something planned outdoors. The day will be mild with a high between 65 and 70 degrees. The front will stall out, meaning we will need to keep some risk of showers in the forecast for Sunday as well. Sunday will be cooler over North/Central Alabama with a high in the upper 50s. No risk of severe storms over the weekend, and probably very little thunder.
NEXT WEEK: With the stalled surface front around, there will be some risk of showers for the first half of the week with highs in the 60s and 70s. Cooler, drier air returns by Thursday and Friday.
LAST NIGHT'S STORMS: A tornado produced significant damage from near Eutaw in Greene County to Stewart in Hale County last night. Other damage was reported in Tallassee and Locust Fork, possibly from a tornado in both places. Straight line winds knocked down trees in a number of counties.
HURRICANE SEASON ENDS TODAY: In total, this hurricane season produced 14 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which eight became hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater) and two intensified to major hurricanes with winds reaching 111 mph or greater. An average hurricane season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
The 2022 season saw three hurricane landfalls along the coast of the U.S. mainland. Hurricane Ian made landfall first as a Category 4 storm in Cayo Costa, Florida, and again as a Category 1 in Georgetown, South Carolina. As a Category 4 with 150 mph maximum sustained winds, Hurricane Ian tied for the fifth-strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in the U.S. Hurricane Nicole made landfall as a Category 1 in north Hutchinson Island, Florida.