The Alabama Weather Blog (2024)

FAQs

What does El Niño mean for Alabama? ›

During El Niño years the subtropical jet stream across the southern US is enhanced; this tends to increase the cloud cover along the Gulf Coastal States. These clouds not only increase the number of days with precipitation, but they also reduce maximum temperature while increasing the average minimum temperature.

January is normally the coldest month but there is not much difference from mid-December to mid-February. Overall, winters are relatively mild. Even in cold spells, it is unusual for the temperature to remain below freezing all day.

Alabama generally has hot, humid summers and mild winters with copious precipitation throughout the year. The state receives an average of 56 inches (1,400 mm) of rainfall each year and experiences a lengthy growing season of up to 300 days in its southern portion.

Annual precipitation is highly variable from year to year (Figure 2c). Statewide annual average precipitation is 55.4 inches and is distributed rather uniformly throughout the year, except for a relatively dry period between August and October.

One thing to note is that temperatures tend to be moderated during strong El Nino winters, owing to the Pacific-dominated flow. On average, strong El Nino winters have less very warm days (highs of 70 F or greater) as well as less very cold days (highs of 32 F or colder) when compared to the long- term normals.

For parts of the tropics, it's a different story. Northern Hemisphere summers that lead up to El Niño winters do tend to be hotter than average across parts of northern Africa, India, and Central and South America. They also tend to be drier than average.

Valley Head, in the northeast corner of the state, below Chattanooga, is usually the coldest place in Alabama. Average January low is 27.5 Fahrenheit while the capital, Montgomery, has an average January low of 35.7 Fahrenheit. Probably Mentone, in the NE part of the state.

January is typically the coldest and snowiest month in Alabama, but mild snow events can occur from December to March.

Alabama's hottest temperature on record happened on Sept. 5, 1925: 112 degrees Fahrenheit in Centreville (Bibb County).

Whether you're looking for mountains and pine trees or white sandy beaches, you'll find it in Alabama. Plus, the low cost of living mixed with a healthy dose of Southern hospitality makes Alabama a great place for families.

Is Alabama humid or dry? ›

Alabama is the third most humid state in the US with humidity levels of 85.75%. Its southern location and coastal areas expose the state to the influence of moist air masses from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in high humidity.

Alabama's generally warm, humid climate results from its mid-latitude location and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This location also produces the often-turbulent weather patterns that regularly bring tornadoes and hurricanes to the state.

New Orleans, Louisiana, ties with Mobile, Alabama, for the title of wettest city in the U.S. — both have an annual average rainfall of 66.1 inches (167.89 cm) [source: NCEI, U.S. Climate Data].

During El Niño events, increased precipitation is expected in Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico due to a more southerly, zonal, storm track over the Southwest, leading to increased winter snowpack and a stronger and longer duration monsoon season.

But in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast, these periods are wetter than usual and have increased flooding. El Niño causes the Pacific jet stream to move south and spread further east. During winter, this leads to wetter conditions than usual in the Southern U.S. and warmer and drier conditions in the North.

You can think of the jet stream as a river of air, which carries more moisture and precipitation along the southern tier of the United States during El Niño. As a result, it is not surprising to see a stripe of increased snowfall (blue shading) over the southern half of the country.

Specifics vary, but in general, springtime tornadoes and hailstorms are less frequent in the southern central United States during El Niño, and more frequent during La Niña. The research showed that ENSO affects tornado and hailstorm frequency by influencing the position of the jet stream over North America.