Birmingham wakes Thursday to clear skies and a little breathing room before a much rougher weekend. Temperatures near 63 early will climb to around 88 under sunshine, with light northeast winds and no rain expected.
Friday Starts Quiet Then Turns Stormy
Friday will stay warm, reaching about 85 degrees, but clouds and a slight chance of showers arrive after 1 p.m. The rain threat jumps Friday night, when showers are expected alongside strengthening winds.
The National Weather Service says Hurricane Isaias is expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast Friday evening, with Central Alabama facing possible heavy rain and strengthening winds. The shift is a substantial turn from the sunny, warm setup outlined in an earlier Hoodline forecast.
Saturday Is The Main Concern
Saturday is expected to bring rain nearly all day, followed by showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 73 and a 100% chance of precipitation. Forecasters say Central Alabama could receive 2 to 4 inches of rain, with locally higher totals near 5 inches, raising the risk of flash flooding in Birmingham and other urban areas.
The latest forecast discussion also warns that winds could gust 40 to 50 mph late Friday night through Saturday, potentially bringing down trees and power lines and causing scattered outages. An isolated tornado threat may develop mainly east of Interstate 65, although forecasters say confidence remains low.
Dry Weather Returns Next Week
Sunday should be partly sunny, while Monday turns sunny and reaches about 85. Tuesday may climb to 87 before temperatures reach around 88 Wednesday, giving Birmingham a drier stretch after the weekend system moves away.
No watches or warnings are listed for Birmingham in the current forecast, but the storm track and timing remain subject to change. Residents should secure loose outdoor items, charge phones and other essential devices, avoid driving through flooded roads and keep an eye on updated alerts as Friday approaches.
