Well during this lull, guess I'll post BMX's AFD
Thursday/Thursday night:
Southwest flow aloft continues during this period as a trough
axis sharpens over the Southern Plains and Desert Southwest.
Over-running light rain will continue for areas mainly along/south
of I-85 in the axis of mid-level moisture during this period.
Cloudcover and precipitation will keep temperatures in the 40s
for most areas, with highs around 50 possible in West Alabama.
Models are trending a bit further southeast with the northwestern
edge of precipitation, which may stay ahead of the cooler air and
associated wintry precipitation potential through 12z Friday
morning. But for now will keep the slight chance of a rain/snow
mix in after midnight Thursday night from Selma/Montgomery
northeastward to Randolph/Chambers counties for continuity and due
to spread in the ensembles. Temperatures should remain above
freezing in these areas Thursday night, however.
Friday/Friday night:
Models diverge during this period. The GFS is more progressive
with the shortwave, keeping the precipitation south/east of the
forecast area during this period. Meanwhile the ECMWF/Canadian are
slower, keeping the moist southwesterly flow in place longer along
with associated precipitation for areas along and south of I-85.
This is problematic as continued low-level cold air advection
causes 850 and 925 mb temperatures to fall below freezing and
1000-850 mb thicknesses to fall below critical values. Raw output
from these models keeps temperatures in the mid 30s. Therefore,
introduced a rain/snow mix across the southeast counties (mainly
along/south of I-85) for Friday. Temperatures above freezing and
warm ground temperatures would likely greatly inhibit any
accumulation potential, as well as a potential for a warm nose due
to southwest flow aloft. Therefore, confidence in any
accumulation is too low to include in the HWO at this time, also
taking into account climatological unfavorability in these areas
and model disagreement. Dry conditions are expected Friday night
with temperatures falling below freezing across the entire area.