FIRST ALERT: Wind gusts up to 45 mph possible overnight

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A Wind Advisory is in effect until 3 PM CST Wednesday for all of Central Alabama. Winds tonight will come from the southeast at 15-25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Our biggest concern tonight will be heavy rain and gusty winds. Make sure you have any outdoor furniture or plants secure and charge your devices before turning in for bed. By tomorrow, we could see sustained winds of 10-20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Winds tomorrow will come from the west-northwest.

Severe Potential Tonight: The Storm Prediction Center has a marginal risk -threat level 1 out of 5-includes areas along and south of I-20 in Central Alabama. The good news for us is that with a stable air mass in place, severe weather appears unlikely for most of our area. It’ll be difficult to produce tornadoes and widespread severe storms when surface temperatures are in the 50s. A strong storm capable of producing strong winds will be the main threat. We will watch our far southern counties for a low-end potential for a stray severe storm tonight. Just have ways to receive weather updates in case a warning is issued. We recommend downloading our WBRC First Alert Weather App and turning on a NOAA Weather Radio. Make sure it has fresh batteries too in case you lose power tonight.

By 11 PM, rain and windy conditions will become more widespread in west Alabama. I think a lot of us will see steady rainfall with embedded pockets of heavy rain. The rain and wind will shift east overnight across Central Alabama.  The bulk of the rain will likely push out of Central Alabama by sunrise tomorrow morning. Rainfall totals will likely add up around a half inch to an inch for most of Central Alabama. If you have to be on the roads tonight, drive carefully and slow down. Visibility will be very low.

Lingering Showers Tomorrow: We will likely remain mostly cloudy tomorrow as a cold front moves through the state. Most of our rain will occur during the morning hours, but we could see wrap around moisture produce isolated showers tomorrow afternoon. Our high temperature will likely occur during the morning hours when we are in the 50s. By Wednesday afternoon, temperatures are forecast to cool into the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds will remain windy at times from the west-northwest at 10-20 mph with gusts up to 30-40 mph. Winds should decrease Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. 

Chilly Thursday: Models are hinting that cloud cover could be stubborn to leave Thursday. We’ll likely start Thursday morning off chilly with temperatures in the mid 30s. We will end up with a mostly cloudy to partly sunny sky Thursday afternoon with highs in the mid to upper 40s. I’ve introduced a 10% chance for a stray shower Thursday, but most of us will end up dry. If anyone sees a few sprinkles -- or a stray flurry -- on Thursday, it will be in north Alabama.

Dry Finish to the Week: I want to give everyone a first alert for freezing temperatures Friday morning. Friday morning could end up colder with temperatures in the upper 20s. Parts of North Alabama could drop into the mid 20s. Make sure you bring your pets in Thursday evening so they can stay warm. Friday afternoon will likely remain dry with a mostly sunny sky with highs climbing into the lower 50s. 

Weekend Forecast: It looks like we have another split weekend coming up. Saturday is shaping up to be dry, but rain will likely return Sunday. Saturday morning is forecast to start out in the low to mid 30s with highs in the mid to upper 50s. Cloud cover will likely increase Saturday afternoon, so I would plan for a partly to mostly cloudy sky. Rain chances return Sunday with cloudy conditions. We will likely start Sunday morning in the low to mid 40s with an isolated shower possible. Scattered showers will become likely Sunday afternoon with highs in the low to mid 50s. Rain chance Sunday is at 80%.

Wrapping-Up January: Next Monday looks quieter and drier after a soggy Sunday, but we have a First Alert for rain and potentially some storms on Tuesday with warmer air moving back into Alabama. Still plenty of time to fine-tune the forecast but doesn’t look like the wet pattern is going to give up any time soon.

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