Cooler temperatures coming to Alabama later this week

Some in Alabama will have a chance to enjoy slightly cooler temperatures this week.

There’s no need to pull out the sweaters, but the National Weather Service is forecasting more spring-like — and less summer-like — weather later this week. And there’s a chance some cooler temperatures could last into the following week as well.

But there will be some storms to get through first. The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a Level 3 out of 5 (enhanced) risk for severe weather for parts of the state on Tuesday as a cold front approaches.

Here’s the severe weather outlook for Tuesday:

A Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather is in the forecast for the areas in orange on Tuesday.SPC

This cold front may bring storms, but it could also bring some cooler air along with it.

Highs on Tuesday are forecast to range from the upper 80s to the low 90s statewide. By Wednesday north Alabama will begin to feel some of those cooler temperatures.

Highs on Wednesday may stay in the 70s for north Alabama. However, that cooler air may not make it to the rest of the state, which may have temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s again.

Here’s the forecast for Wednesday:

Wednesday highs

Only north Alabama will be cooler on Wednesday, with more sultry temperatures expected in south Alabama.NWS

But the change in the air will be really felt on Thursday, when cooler temperatures may be felt statewide.

Highs on Thursday will range from the low 70s in north Alabama to the low 80s for south Alabama.

Here’s the forecast for Thursday:

Thursday highs

Thursday’s temperatures will be more spring-like than summer-like.NWS

Low temperatures on Thursday night might flirt with the 40s in some areas. Here are the forecast lows for Thursday night-Friday morning:

Thursday night lows

It will be chilly (for May) in Alabama from Thursday night into Friday morning.NWS

High temperatures on Friday are expected to stay very pleasant for Alabama, with a range from the low 70s to the low 80s in the forecast:

Friday highs

Here are Friday’s forecast high temperatures.NWS

Lows on Friday night will again be on the cool side again, with 50s and 60s expected statewide:

Friday-Saturday lows

Here are Friday night’s expected low temperatures.NWS

Temperatures are forecast to warm up some over the weekend, but there are hints that more cool-ish weather will be possible.

The Climate Prediction Center’s six- to 10-day temperature outlook (at the top of this post), which covers from May 23-27, shows increased probabilities of below-average temperatures for Alabama.

Northern Alabama has a 50-60 percent chance for below-average temperatures, and central and part of south Alabama have a 40-50 percent probability. Extreme south Alabama has a 33-40 percent probability of cooler temperatures.

A longer-range forecast, the eight- to 14-day outlook, also includes a chance for below-average temperatures through the end of the month:

8-14 day temperature outlook

Chances for below-average temperatures could continue through the end of May.CPC

Enjoy it if you can, because meteorological summer will begin June 1, and the outlook for June suggests warmer-than-average temperatures will be the story:

June temperature outlook

There are increased probabilities for above-average temperatures in June.CPC