Spring chill: More below-average temperatures this week
The last week of April will feel a bit cooler than normal across much of Alabama, according to forecasters.
It won’t be cold enough to pull out the heavy coats, but below-average temperatures are in the forecast through the week — and into next week as well.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has upped the odds of below-average temperatures for the northern part of Alabama in its six- to 10-day temperature outlook (shown at the top of this post). That outlook spans from Saturday until the Wednesday after next, or May 3.
Parts of north and west Alabama have an 80 to 90 percent chance of seeing below-average temperatures. Most of the rest of the state has a 70 to 80 percent probability. Southeast Alabama has a 60 to 70 percent probability.
Alabama will remain in a decent probability of cooler temperatures into next week as well. The CPC’s eight- to 14-day temperature outlook, which covers May 1-7, shows continued chances for below-average temperatures across the state.
Alabama could see below-average temperatures into the first week of May as well, although the probabilities are not as high as they have been.
According to the National Weather Service, average temperatures for this point in April look something like this:
* North Alabama — mid- to upper 70s for highs, mid-50s for lows.
* Central Alabama — upper 70s to low 80s for highs, mid-50s for lows.
* South Alabama — low 80s for highs, upper 50s for lows.
Highs today (Monday), will range from the low to mid-60s in north Alabama, the upper 60s to low 70s in central Alabama and the mid-70s in south Alabama:
Here are the forecast highs for Monday.
Low temperatures tonight (Monday night into Tuesday morning) will be in the upper 30s to low 40s in north Alabama, the low to mid-40s in central Alabama and the low 50s across south Alabama, according to weather service forecasts.
Here are tonight’s expected low temperatures.
Rain will be an on and off player in the forecast this week, with higher chances arriving on Wednesday into Thursday, according to the weather service.
The rain and clouds will help to keep temperatures lower as well.
But there are signs that a warmup may be on the horizon. The CPC’s temperature outlook for May shows a higher probability for above-average temperatures for the state over the course of the month, with higher probabilities for south Alabama.
The overall trend for the month of May for Alabama is above-average temperatures, with south Alabama having slightly higher probabilities.