Current weather · Sep 30, 11:16 PM CDT

33.4850, -85.8090

67°

ClearFeels like 67° · Humidity 81%NWS forecast for this hour; no recent station reportForecast by NWS NWS Birmingham, Alabama · grid 96,85
High
84°
Low
63°
Rain today
0%
Sunrise
6:37 AM
Sunset
6:29 PM

Hour by hour

NWS forecast grid

Scroll sideways for more hours. Pick an hour for every number.

Every hour as a table48 hours
TimeWeatherTemperatureFeels likeDew pointHumidityChanceAmountSnowDirWindGustSky coverThunderPressureVisibilityCeiling
Wed 11 PM67°67°61°81%0%SE8 mph12 mph4%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 12 AM67°67°61°81%0%SE9 mph12 mph3%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 1 AM66°66°61°84%0%SE9 mph13 mph5%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 2 AM66°66°61°84%0%SE9 mph13 mph4%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 3 AM66°66°61°84%0%SSE9 mph13 mph5%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 4 AM65°65°61°87%0%SSE9 mph13 mph6%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 5 AM64°64°61°90%0%SSE8 mph12 mph8%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 6 AM64°64°61°90%0%SSE8 mph12 mph9%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 7 AM64°64°62°93%0%SSE7 mph10 mph15%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 8 AM67°67°63°87%0%SSE7 mph12 mph23%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 9 AM70°70°62°76%0%SSE7 mph12 mph30%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 10 AM74°74°63°69%0%SSE7 mph13 mph24%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 11 AM77°77°63°62%0%SE7 mph13 mph13%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 12 PM81°82°62°53%0%SE7 mph14 mph8%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 1 PM82°82°60°47%0%SE7 mph14 mph7%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 2 PM82°82°60°47%0%SE8 mph14 mph15%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 3 PM84°84°60°44%0%SE8 mph14 mph17%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 4 PM82°82°59°46%0%SE7 mph13 mph16%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 5 PM82°82°58°44%0%SE7 mph13 mph14%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 6 PM80°81°58°47%0%SE6 mph12 mph9%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 7 PM75°75°63°66%0%SE6 mph12 mph9%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 8 PM74°74°64°71%0%SSE7 mph12 mph11%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 9 PM73°73°66°79%0%SE8 mph12 mph13%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 10 PM72°72°66°81%0%SE8 mph13 mph17%—10 mi-100 ft
Thu 11 PM71°71°66°84%0%SE9 mph13 mph14%—10 mi-100 ft
Fri 12 AM71°71°65°81%0%SE9 mph13 mph7%—10 mi-100 ft
Fri 1 AM70°70°66°87%0%SE8 mph12 mph6%—10 mi-100 ft
Fri 2 AM70°70°66°87%0%SE8 mph12 mph6%—10 mi-100 ft
Fri 3 AM69°69°65°87%0%SE8 mph12 mph7%—10 mi-100 ft
Fri 4 AM68°68°65°90%0%SE7 mph10 mph9%—10 mi-100 ft
Fri 5 AM68°68°65°90%0%SSE7 mph10 mph11%——
Fri 6 AM67°67°65°93%0%SSE7 mph9 mph10%——
Fri 7 AM67°67°65°93%1%SE6 mph8 mph9%1%——
Fri 8 AM69°69°66°90%1%SSE6 mph9 mph5%1%——
Fri 9 AM73°73°66°79%1%SSE6 mph10 mph13%1%——
Fri 10 AM77°77°66°69%1%S5 mph10 mph21%1%——
Fri 11 AM80°82°66°62%1%S5 mph10 mph28%1%——
Fri 12 PM82°84°65°56%1%S5 mph9 mph34%1%——
Fri 1 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers83°85°65°55%22%0.00 inS5 mph9 mph41%12%——
Fri 2 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers84°86°65°53%22%0.00 inS5 mph9 mph42%12%——
Fri 3 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers84°86°65°53%22%0.00 inSSE3 mph8 mph44%12%——
Fri 4 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers83°85°65°55%22%0.00 inSSE3 mph8 mph46%12%——
Fri 5 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers80°82°66°62%22%0.00 inSSE3 mph8 mph48%12%——
Fri 6 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers78°78°66°67%22%0.00 inSE3 mph7 mph51%12%——
Fri 7 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers75°75°67°76%17%SE3 mph7 mph53%6%——
Fri 8 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers74°74°67°79%17%SE3 mph7 mph53%6%——
Fri 9 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers73°73°68°84%17%SSE5 mph7 mph54%6%——
Fri 10 PMSlight chance of moderate rain showers72°72°68°87%17%SSE5 mph7 mph54%6%——

The next 16 days

NWS grid published Sep 30, 6:06 PM CDT to day 8, the National Blend of Models to day 11, the mean of GFS, ECMWF, ECMWF AI to day 16
  1. TodaySep 3084°63°Clear0%wind 8 mph
  2. ThuOct 185°67°Sunny0%wind 9 mph
  3. FriOct 285°68°Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers22%0.01 inwind 9 mph
  4. SatOct 380°66°Showers And Thunderstorms Likely64%0.73 inwind 5 mph
  5. SunOct 472°64°Showers And Thunderstorms76%1.14 inwind 5 mph · gusts 12 mph
  6. MonOct 572°57°Chance Rain Showers43%0.34 inwind 7 mph · gusts 16 mph
  7. TueOct 671°53°Mostly Sunny6%wind 9 mph · gusts 20 mph
  8. WedOct 768°53°Mostly Sunny14%0.03 inwind 10 mph · gusts 22 mph
  9. ThuOct 872°54°National Blend7%wind 9 mph
  10. FriOct 974°54°National Blend11%0.04 inwind 7 mph · gusts 13 mph
  11. SatOct 1072°54°National Blend21%0.27 inwind 9 mph · gusts 16 mph
  12. SunOct 11~73°62°Model mean0.48 in
  13. MonOct 12~71°64°Model mean0.32 in
  14. TueOct 13~63°55°Model mean0.02 in
  15. WedOct 14~68°47°Model mean
  16. ThuOct 15~77°54°Model mean

Right now

NWS grid for this hour · UV from the EPA · air quality from AirNow
  • Feels like67°
  • WindSE 8 mphgusts 12 mph
  • Radar over this pointno reading
  • Humidity81%
  • Dew point61°
  • Pressure—
  • UV index—
  • Air quality—
  • Visibility10 mi
  • Sunrise and sunsetSunrise · Sunset · set
  • Moonrise8:57 PMMoonset 10:59 AM
  • Moon phaseWaning gibbous82% lit

The National Blend of Models

NOAA NBM v5.0 · run of Sep 30, 7:00 PM CDT

NOAA’s weighted blend of every model it runs, to eleven days, with the chances the grid above does not carry. Where the local office’s grid reaches, its figure sits beneath the blend’s; where it does not, the blend stands alone.

  1. TodaySep 30—64°NWS grid 84° / 63°rain 0%wind 8 mph
  2. ThuOct 184°67°NWS grid 85° / 67°rain 1%wind 9 mph
  3. FriOct 284°68°NWS grid 85° / 68°rain 53%thunder 30%0.08 inwind 9 mph
  4. SatOct 379°66°NWS grid 80° / 66°rain 81%thunder 33%0.56 inwind 6 mph
  5. SunOct 471°64°NWS grid 72° / 64°rain 80%thunder 29%1.61 inwind 8 mph
  6. MonOct 572°57°NWS grid 72° / 57°rain 35%0.64 inwind 10 mph · gusts 16 mph
  7. TueOct 671°53°NWS grid 71° / 53°rain 8%wind 15 mph · gusts 22 mph
  8. WedOct 768°53°NWS grid 68° / 53°rain 11%wind 16 mph
  9. ThuOct 872°54°Beyond the NWS gridrain 7%wind 9 mph
  10. FriOct 974°54°Beyond the NWS gridrain 11%0.04 inwind 7 mph · gusts 13 mph
  11. SatOct 1072°54°Beyond the NWS gridrain 21%0.27 inwind 9 mph · gusts 16 mph
  12. SunOct 1171°—Beyond the NWS gridrain 24%wind 10 mph
50°68°86°ThuFriSatSunMonTueWed

BlendNWS gridChance of rain, hourly

The models, side by side

HRRR Sep 30, 7:00 PM CDT · GFS Sep 30, 1:00 PM CDT · GEFS Sep 30, 1:00 PM CDT · ECMWF Sep 30, 7:00 AM CDT · ECMWF AI Sep 30, 7:00 AM CDT

Each line is one model’s own forecast at its own grid cell: three kilometers for HRRR, a quarter of a degree for the global models, which can sit a few hundred meters above or below the town. Where they agree the forecast is settled; where they part is where it is not.

50°73°95°ThuFriSatSunMonTueWed

DayNWS gridHRRRGFSGEFSECMWFECMWF AI
Today Sep 3084° 63°~76° 70°~86° 67°~87° 68°~85° 56°~87° 58°
Thu Oct 185° 67°85° 66°88° 63°87° 64°85° 64°~86° 65°
Fri Oct 285° 68°0.01 in84° 70°82° 69°0.59 in87° 67°0.22 in85° 68°0.04 in~86° 69°0.07 in
Sat Oct 380° 66°0.73 in—80° 68°0.65 in82° 69°0.45 in82° 70°0.38 in~83° 72°0.24 in
Sun Oct 472° 64°1.14 in—71° 68°0.69 in72° 67°0.81 in~72° 69°0.18 in~73° 70°0.72 in
Mon Oct 572° 57°0.34 in—81° 62°74° 65°0.41 in80° 63°~78° 67°0.01 in
Tue Oct 671° 53°—78° 59°70° 60°0.19 in~76° 57°~78° 61°
Wed Oct 768° 53°0.03 in—66° 53°65° 55°0.20 in~73° 63°~70° 58°
Thu Oct 8——76° 50°72° 54°0.11 in~78° 52°~81° 55°
Fri Oct 9——77° 57°75° 56°0.10 in~80° 57°~81° 53°
Sat Oct 10——68° 60°0.09 in~74° 58°0.07 in~77° 67°~82° 58°
Sun Oct 11——~62° 62°1.11 in—~78° 57°0.27 in~78° 66°0.07 in
Mon Oct 12——~69° 64°0.13 in—~70° 63°0.44 in~72° 64°0.41 in
Tue Oct 13——~72° 60°—~80° 69°~55° 50°0.03 in
Wed Oct 14——~73° 52°—~81° 69°~64° 41°
Thu Oct 15——~77° 54°—~68° 66°~46° 41°

A ~ marks a high or low read from six-hourly steps, which miss the true extreme by a degree or two.

ECMWF ensemble meteogram

ECMWF ensemble meteogram for this place: box plots of cloud cover, precipitation, wind speed and temperature from the 51 ensemble members for ten days.
Rendered by ECMWF from its 51-member ensemble, in metric units: each box spans the middle half of the members, the whiskers the rest, the line the control run. A forecast, not an observation. © ECMWF, CC BY 4.0.

The next 90 days

NOAA GHCN normals and records at Anniston (ANB) · Climate Prediction Center outlooks

No forecast has skill day by day past about two weeks, and this page does not print one. Where the models stop, the calendar takes over: the 1991 to 2020 normal for each date, the record high and low ever set on it, and where the Climate Prediction Center leans warm, cool, wet or dry over the coming weeks, the month and the season. A site that shows a high for a date three months out is showing you this normal with a wobble.

The forecast reaches Thu Oct 15, from the NWS grid, then the National Blend, then the mean of the global models. Beyond it the lines are the calendar.

Climate Prediction Center (CPC) temperature leanequal chances33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec0°20°40°60°80°100°TodayOct 1Nov 1Dec 1

Forecast high and lowNormal high and lowRecord high and lowCPC leans warmer than normalCPC near normal or equal chances

Week ofNormalWarmest on recordColdest on recordTemperature leanPrecipitation lean
Sep 3080° / 57°100° (2019)33° (1987)equal chances · Oct 202640% chance above normal · Oct 2026
Oct 777° / 57°91° (2007)32° (2000)near normal most likely · days 6 to 1040% chance above normal · days 6 to 10
Oct 1474° / 49°90° (2016)28° (2022)equal chances · Oct 202640% chance above normal · Oct 2026
Oct 2172° / 48°90° (1953)25° (1904)equal chances · Oct 202640% chance above normal · Oct 2026
Oct 2872° / 47°88° (2016)20° (1954)equal chances · Oct 202640% chance above normal · Oct 2026
Nov 468° / 44°85° (2022)20° (1966)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Nov 1165° / 41°85° (1958)18° (1969)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Nov 1865° / 42°81° (1963)13° (1950)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Nov 2563° / 38°81° (1973)5° (1950)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Dec 258° / 39°80° (1951)17° (1984)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Dec 957° / 38°79° (2007)1° (1962)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Dec 1656° / 33°77° (1971)8° (1989)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Dec 2355° / 33°78° (1964)3° (1983)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec

Health and activities

Rules of thumb over the next 24 hours of forecast, the warnings in force, the station’s report, air quality and pollen

None of these is a measurement. Each is a rating of the forecast ahead, and of what is happening at the point right now, against what the activity or the ailment is known to mind, and each names the figure that decided it. An ailment or a pest is rated as a risk, low to extreme; an activity, a chore or a journey as a condition, poor to ideal.

The sun is down, so each rating says which span it is for: tomorrow’s daylight, tonight, or the next 24 hours.

Health

  • Arthritisnext 24 hModeratehumid
  • Sinus pressurenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Common coldtomorrowLowmild
  • FlutomorrowLowmild
  • Migrainenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Asthmanext 24 hLowclean air
  • Heat stresstomorrowLowmild
  • SunburntomorrowLowweak sun
  • Frostbitenext 24 hLowmild
  • SleepingtonightIdealcool, quiet night

Outdoors

  • RunningtomorrowGoodhot
  • HikingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • BikingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • GolftomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • FishingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Boating and paddlingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Beach and pooltomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • CampingtonightIdealfine conditions
  • StargazingtonightGoodbright moon

Travel

  • Air travelnext 24 hIdealclear skies
  • Drivingnext 24 hIdealclear roads

Home and garden

  • Lawn mowingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • GardeningtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Outdoor entertainingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Drying laundry outsidetomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Painting and outdoor projectstomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • FrosttonightLowmild

Pests

  • MosquitoestomorrowHighwarm
  • TickstomorrowHighwarm
  • Indoor pestsnext 24 hLowmild
  • Outdoor peststomorrowHighwarm

Stargazing

Worked out from the NWS hourly forecast and the sun and moon

Tonight: 1 dark, clear hours without a bright moon, from 8:00 PM. Rated fair.

Night ofRatingDarkClear hoursClear and moonlessMoon litTransparency (est.)DewStrongest wind
WednesdayFair7:51 PM to 5:15 AM9 of 91 h from 8:00 PM80%Fair9 mph
ThursdayFair7:50 PM to 5:16 AM9 of 92 h from 8:00 PM70%Fair1 h9 mph
FridayPoor7:49 PM to 5:17 AM0 of 9None60%6 h5 mph
SaturdayPoor7:47 PM to 5:17 AM0 of 9None50%9 h3 mph
SundayPoor7:46 PM to 5:18 AM0 of 9None39%9 h5 mph
MondayPoor7:45 PM to 5:19 AM0 of 9None29%8 h7 mph
TuesdayPoor7:43 PM to 5:19 AM0 of 9None20%5 h10 mph

Dark is the sun 18 degrees below the horizon; where it never gets that low, 12 degrees, marked nautical. Clear is sky cover of 20% or less. A bright moon is one above the horizon with a quarter or more of its disc lit. Transparency in the table is estimated from surface humidity (70% and 85% mark fair and poor) and visibility, since the forecast carries no haze or high cloud moisture. Seeing and transparency by hour, where shown, are Environment and Climate Change Canada’s astronomy forecast (regional model; seeing from cloud, wind shear, turbulence near the ground and the surface temperature trend; transparency from the moisture through the whole air column), under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Dew is the air within 2 °C of its dew point. Excellent is four or more clear moonless hours with good transparency; good is three; fair is one, or two clear hours.

Golden hour and blue hour

Computed from the sun and moon positions
DayBlue hour, morningGolden hour, morningGolden hour, eveningBlue hour, evening
Wed6:12 AM to 6:22 AM6:22 AM to 7:10 AM5:56 PM to 6:44 PM6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Thu6:13 AM to 6:22 AM6:22 AM to 7:11 AM5:55 PM to 6:43 PM6:43 PM to 6:52 PM
Fri6:14 AM to 6:23 AM6:23 AM to 7:11 AM5:53 PM to 6:41 PM6:41 PM to 6:51 PM
Sat6:14 AM to 6:24 AM6:24 AM to 7:12 AM5:52 PM to 6:40 PM6:40 PM to 6:50 PM
Sun6:15 AM to 6:25 AM6:25 AM to 7:13 AM5:50 PM to 6:39 PM6:39 PM to 6:48 PM
Mon6:16 AM to 6:25 AM6:25 AM to 7:14 AM5:49 PM to 6:37 PM6:37 PM to 6:47 PM
Tue6:16 AM to 6:26 AM6:26 AM to 7:14 AM5:48 PM to 6:36 PM6:36 PM to 6:46 PM
NESWSRSSMRMS
  • SR Sunrise 6:37 AM, 93° E
  • SS Sunset 6:29 PM, 267° W
  • MR Moonrise 8:57 PM, 58° ENE
  • MS Moonset 10:59 AM, 300° WNW
  • Waning gibbous, 82% lit

Golden hour is the sun between 6 degrees above the horizon and 4 degrees below it; blue hour is the sun between 4 and 6 degrees below. These are the definitions timeanddate.com and PhotoPills use. Directions are degrees clockwise from true north, where the sun’s upper edge and the moon’s center cross a flat horizon; hills and buildings change both. None means the sun does not reach that height on the day; all day means it stays inside the band.

Drone flying

NWS hourly forecast, SWPC Kp, FAA TFRs and 14 CFR Part 107

This hour: no-fly (low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)). Next good stretch: Fri 7 AM to 1 PM, 6 hours.

Today: civil twilight for Part 107 6:07 AM to sunrise 6:37 AM, and sunset 6:29 PM to 6:59 PM. Anti-collision lighting is required in those minutes and at night.

Wed
Thu12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Fri12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Caution No-fly

HourVerdictWind (mph)400 ft est. (mph)Gust (mph)RainVisibilityCloud allowsTempKpWhy
Wed 11 PMNo-fly819230%10 miup to 0 ft67°low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 12 AMNo-fly922240%10 miup to 0 ft67°gusts near or over your limit, low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 1 AMNo-fly922260%10 miup to 0 ft66°gusts near or over your limit, low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 2 AMNo-fly922260%10 miup to 0 ft66°gusts near or over your limit, low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 3 AMNo-fly922260%10 miup to 0 ft66°gusts near or over your limit, low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 4 AMNo-fly922260%10 miup to 0 ft65°gusts near or over your limit, low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 5 AMNo-fly819230%10 miup to 0 ft64°low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 6 AMNo-fly819230%10 miup to 0 ft64°low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 7 AMNo-fly79120%10 miup to 0 ft64°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 8 AMNo-fly79130%10 miup to 0 ft67°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 9 AMNo-fly79130%10 miup to 0 ft70°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 10 AMNo-fly78140%10 miup to 0 ft74°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 11 AMNo-fly78140%10 miup to 0 ft77°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 12 PMNo-fly78150%10 miup to 0 ft81°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 1 PMNo-fly78150%10 miup to 0 ft82°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 2 PMNo-fly810150%10 miup to 0 ft82°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 3 PMNo-fly810160%10 miup to 0 ft84°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 4 PMNo-fly79150%10 miup to 0 ft82°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 5 PMNo-fly79150%10 miup to 0 ft82°low cloud limits height (107.51)
Thu 6 PMNo-fly623290%10 miup to 0 ft80°gusts near or over your limit, low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 7 PMNo-fly623290%10 miup to 0 ft75°gusts near or over your limit, low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 8 PMNo-fly717210%10 miup to 0 ft74°low cloud limits height (107.51), gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 9 PMNo-fly819230%10 miup to 0 ft73°low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Thu 10 PMNo-fly819240%10 miup to 0 ft72°low cloud limits height (107.51), wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)

Flight restrictions nearby

Reading the FAA’s temporary flight restrictions.

Flight restrictions on the map. TFRs are not the whole picture: controlled airspace around airports needs LAANC authorization. Check the FAA’s B4UFLY.

Wind at 400 ft is estimated from the 10 m forecast by the power law, with exponents for each Pasquill stability class (Irwin 1979, rural, as in EPA dispersion models; the class from wind, sun height and cloud, after Turner 1970); gusts keep the ground gust’s margin. Caution from three quarters of your limit; the default 24 mph is the wind resistance printed for common sub-250 g drones. 14 CFR 107.51: “The minimum flight visibility, as observed from the location of the control station must be no less than 3 statute miles” and at least “500 feet below the cloud”. 14 CFR 107.29: “No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system during periods of civil twilight unless the small unmanned aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles”; civil twilight is the 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset, in Alaska the Air Almanac’s. Kp: SWPC’s scales say satellite navigation problems may occur at G3 (Kp 7) and navigation is “degraded for hours” at G4 (Kp 8); Kp 5 is the typical app warning. Typical limits, not rules: rain chance 30% caution and 60% no-fly, thunder 10% and 20%, below 0 °C caution and −10 °C no-fly, over 40 °C caution. Your drone’s manual and the airspace come first.

Spraying and field work

Worked out from the NWS hourly forecast

Hours fit for spraying, and the days dry enough for fieldwork and hay, read from this forecast’s wind, gusts, humidity, temperature and rain.

Spraying windows

  • Wed 11 PM to Thu 1 AM 2 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Thu 9 AM to Fri 1 AM 16 hours, some with delta T between 8 and 10 °C
  • Fri 9 AM to 10 PM 13 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Wed 1 PM to 4 PM 3 hours, every hour within the rules
Wed
Thu12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Fri12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Sat12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Marginal No

Field days

DayDaytimeChance of rainRainLowest humidityStrongest windDry days in a rowHay drying
WednesdayDry0%0.00 in34%6 mph3 dGood
ThursdayDry0%0.00 in44%8 mph2 dGood
FridayDry22%0.01 in53%6 mph1 d
SaturdayWet64%0.73 in69%3 mph
SundayWet76%1.14 in87%5 mph
MondayWet31%0.34 in68%7 mph
TuesdayDry6%0.00 in55%9 mph2 d
WednesdayDry14%0.03 in49%10 mph1 dGood

Spraying: sustained wind 3 to 10 mph, the range US extension services and most labels give; gusts no more than 15 mph (this page’s limit); delta T (air minus wet-bulb temperature) 2 to 8 °C preferred and 8 to 10 °C marginal, from GRDC guidance, with the wet bulb by Stull’s formula; no hour at a 30% chance of rain or 0.25 mm forecast during the rain-free time. Follow the product label, which overrides all of this. Field days: dry is no daytime hour at a 30% chance and under 1 mm all day, wet is 6 mm (0.25 in) or more; soil moisture is not in the forecast, so ground still wet from earlier rain is not accounted for. Hay drying marks a dry day with humidity down to 50% and a breeze of 5 mph or more.

Solunar times

Computed from the moon’s position

The best-rated day this week is Thursday, rated fair.

DayRatingMajor periodsMinor periodsMoonSunrise, sunset
Wed Poor2:30 AM to 4:30 AM3:00 PM to 5:00 PM10:29 AM to 11:29 AM8:27 PM to 9:27 PM 82%6:37 AM, 6:29 PM
Thu Fair3:31 AM to 5:31 AM4:02 PM to 6:02 PM11:39 AM to 12:39 PM9:23 PM to 10:23 PM 73%6:38 AM, 6:28 PM
Fri Fair4:33 AM to 6:33 AM5:05 PM to 7:05 PM12:44 PM to 1:44 PM10:27 PM to 11:27 PM 64%6:38 AM, 6:26 PM
Sat Fair5:36 AM to 7:36 AM6:06 PM to 8:06 PM1:40 PM to 2:40 PM 53%6:39 AM, 6:25 PM
Sun Fair6:36 AM to 8:36 AM7:04 PM to 9:04 PM11:36 PM to 12:36 AM2:27 PM to 3:27 PM 43%6:40 AM, 6:23 PM
Mon Fair7:32 AM to 9:32 AM7:58 PM to 9:58 PM12:46 AM to 1:46 AM3:07 PM to 4:07 PM 32%6:40 AM, 6:22 PM
Tue Poor8:23 AM to 10:23 AM8:48 PM to 10:48 PM1:56 AM to 2:56 AM3:41 PM to 4:41 PM 23%6:41 AM, 6:21 PM

Periods in bold fall within an hour of sunrise or sunset. The weather’s side is the fishing index

Major periods are two hours centered on the moon’s passage overhead and underfoot; minor periods are one hour centered on moonrise and moonset: the conventional durations of John Alden Knight’s solunar tables (1936). The rating is this site’s: one point to start, two more within a day and a half of a new or full moon (one more within three and a half days), and one more when a period falls within an hour of sunrise or sunset. The theory has mixed support in fisheries research; the times are exact astronomy.

In words

NWS forecast periods, as issued
  1. Tonight63° · SE 10 mph

    Clear, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

  2. Thursday85° · SE 5–10 mph

    Sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

  3. Thursday Night67° · SE 5–10 mph

    Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

  4. Friday85° · 22% · SE 5 mph

    A slight chance of rain showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny. High near 85, with temperatures falling to around 80 in the afternoon. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

  5. Friday Night68° · 26% · SE 5 mph

    A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

  6. Saturday80° · 61% · SE 5 mph

    A chance of rain showers before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

  7. Saturday Night66° · 64% · SE 0–5 mph

    Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

  8. Sunday72° · 76% · E 5 mph

    Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

  9. Sunday Night64° · 76% · NE 5 mph

    Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

  10. Monday72° · 36% · NE 5 mph

    A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

  11. Monday Night57° · 31% · NE 5 mph

    A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

  12. Tuesday71° · 6% · E 5–10 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

  13. Tuesday Night53° · 6% · E 5–10 mph

    Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

  14. Wednesday68° · 14% · E 5–10 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

The forecaster’s discussion

NWS NWS Birmingham, Alabama · issued Sep 30, 6:01 PM CDT

Written by the forecaster on duty for their own colleagues and for anyone who wants to know why the forecast says what it says. It is not edited for the public, so it uses the office’s shorthand; it is also the most honest thing any weather service publishes.

KEY Messages

601 PM CDT WED SEP 30 2026

Dry conditions and comfortable mornings will persist through Thursday.

Look for increasing chances of showers and storms starting Friday through Monday, with the best chances Saturday night through Sunday areawide. Rainfall amounts of generally 1 to 2 inches, locally higher are possible.

Discussion

157 PM CDT WED SEP 30 2026

(This afternoon through Tuesday)

The warming trend will persist through Friday. While humidity levels will remain relatively low, they will be higher than those observed this afternoon as moisture begins advecting from the Gulf. Positioned along the ridge, Central Alabama will experience south to southeasterly low-level flow through the remainder of the week, supporting onshore moisture return and steadily increasing dew points. Although moisture must recover further before significant precipitation can occur, low rain chances return late Thursday afternoon across the southern counties.

More substantial rain chances are delayed until late this weekend as an approaching frontal system slows. Consequently, the highest precipitation chances are expected Saturday night through Sunday. WPC has placed the area in a 5 to 15% risk of exceeding flash flood criteria late Saturday through Sunday as a 250mb jet streak slides to our north and puts northwest Alabama in the entrance side of the jet.

Confidence is medium-to-high that the front will stall or become slow-moving, keeping rain chances elevated into early next week. On Sunday, the proximity of the front will help usher in more Gulf moisture as a weak shortwave slides into southern Alabama ahead of the front. Total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are most likely across much of Central Alabama between Friday and Monday, though locally higher amounts remain possible. Increased cloud cover and widespread precipitation will moderate temperatures over the weekend. Guidance suggests sufficient upper- level support will eventually push the surface boundary through on Monday, ushering in cooler and drier conditions for the first half of next week.

16

Aviation

601 PM CDT WED SEP 30 2026

(00Z TAFS)

Under ridging aloft and at the surface, VFR conditions are expected for the entire TAF period.

/44/

Fire Weather

Dry weather will persist through Thursday with light winds. This afternoon minimum RH values are in the upper 20s through the 30s percent range across the region. Humidity values will increase on Thursday with values in the upper 30s to mid 40s, with 50s and low 60s on Friday as southerly flow returns. Rain chances return late this week and increase over the weekend.

Preliminary Point Temps / Pops

Gadsden 59 92 67 92 / 0 0 0 20 Anniston 61 91 68 91 / 0 0 0 20 Birmingham 65 91 69 92 / 0 0 0 20 Tuscaloosa 64 94 70 94 / 0 0 0 20 Calera 65 91 69 92 / 0 0 0 20 Auburn 66 88 69 89 / 0 0 0 30 Montgomery 67 92 70 92 / 0 0 0 40 Troy 66 90 69 90 / 0 10 0 50

BMX Watches / Warnings / Advisories

None.

The outlooks beyond

SPC, WPC, CPC and the Drought Monitor, read at this point

The national centers each publish a judgment the local grid does not carry. Read here at this exact coordinate.

Severe weather

  1. Day 1 · Wed Sep 30No risk area
  2. Day 2 · Thu Oct 1No risk area
  3. Day 3 · Fri Oct 2General Thunderstorms Risk
  4. Day 4 · Sat Oct 3No risk area
  5. Day 5 · Sun Oct 4No risk area
  6. Day 6 · Mon Oct 5No risk area
  7. Day 7 · Tue Oct 6No risk area
  8. Day 8 · Wed Oct 7No risk area

Rainfall

  1. Day 1 · Wed Sep 30Under 0.01 in
  2. Day 2 · Thu Oct 10.01 in
  3. Day 3 · Fri Oct 20.25 in
  4. Day 4-5 · Oct 3–Oct 41.50 in
  5. Day 6-7 · Oct 5–Oct 60.01 in

The rainfall forecast on the map, days 1 to 7

Flash flood risk

  1. Day 1 · Wed Sep 30Below marginal
  2. Day 2 · Thu Oct 1Below marginal
  3. Day 3 · Fri Oct 2Below marginal
  4. Day 4 · Sat Oct 3Marginal
  5. Day 5 · Sun Oct 4Marginal

Six to fourteen days

  1. Days 6–10 · TemperatureNear normal most likelyOct 6–Oct 10
  2. Days 6–10 · Precipitation40% chance above normalOct 6–Oct 10
  3. Days 8–14 · TemperatureNear normal most likelyOct 8–Oct 14
  4. Days 8–14 · Precipitation40% chance above normalOct 8–Oct 14

Hazards, 3 to 14 days

  1. Oct 3–Oct 6Heavy Rain

Drought

  1. Drought Monitor, map of Sep 22D0 Abnormally dry

Drought in this county: the map, the record since 2000 and the outlook

Frost and climate

NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Anniston Metro AP

The last spring freeze (32°F) usually comes around March 23 and the first fall freeze around November 9: a growing season of about 231 days.

One fall in ten brings a freeze by October 27; one spring in ten still has one after April 9.

Climate of 33.48, -85.81: normals, records and every month

Everything else on the grid

NWS forecast grid · 29 elements

The forecast office edits about sixty fields for every cell of its grid. The common ones are above; these are the rest, as the daily extreme, for anyone who needs the mixing height, the fire danger or the swell.

ElementWedThuFriSatSunMonTueWed
HeatRisk max1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor0 · Little0 · Little
Wet bulb globe temperature max74°77°79°76°71°70°67°63°
Heat index max82°84°86°78°72°72°71°
Chance of thunder max0%0%12%29%28%12%3%4%
Cloud ceiling min-100 ft-100 ft-100 ft
Visibility min10 mi10 mi10 mi
Mixing height max5,700 ft5,100 ft5,200 ft400 ft
Transport wind max10 mph10 mph9 mph5 mph
Twenty-foot wind max7 mph7 mph7 mph3 mph3 mph6 mph7 mph8 mph
Dispersion index max5661393
Low visibility risk max45610
Stability max6666

Against the record

NOAA GHCN · Anniston (ANB) · 7.6 mi away

Each forecast day against the same calendar date at the nearest long-record station: the 1991 to 2020 normal, and the record high and low with the year they were set.

DayForecastNormalRecord highRecord low
Wed Sep 3084° / 63°80° / 55°98° (2019)34° (1967)
Thu Oct 185° / 67°81° / 56°98° (2019)39° (1972)
Fri Oct 285° / 68°80° / 56°99° (2019)36° (1984)
Sat Oct 380° / 66°80° / 57°100° (2019)36° (1974)
Sun Oct 472° / 64°81° / 57°98° (2019)33° (1987)
Mon Oct 572° / 57°82° / 57°99° (1954)37° (1968)
Tue Oct 671° / 53°80° / 57°96° (1954)37° (2010)
Wed Oct 768° / 53°78° / 56°90° (2007)34° (1991)

Sun and moon

DayCivil twilightSunriseSunsetCivil twilightDaylightMoon
Wed6:12 AM6:37 AM6:29 PM6:54 PM11 h 52 min Waning gibbous · 82% lit
Thu6:13 AM6:38 AM6:28 PM6:52 PM11 h 50 min Waning gibbous · 73% lit
Fri6:14 AM6:38 AM6:26 PM6:51 PM11 h 48 min Waning gibbous · 64% lit
Sat6:14 AM6:39 AM6:25 PM6:50 PM11 h 46 min Last quarter · 53% lit
Sun6:15 AM6:40 AM6:23 PM6:48 PM11 h 43 min Last quarter · 43% lit
Mon6:16 AM6:40 AM6:22 PM6:47 PM11 h 42 min Waning crescent · 32% lit
Tue6:16 AM6:41 AM6:21 PM6:46 PM11 h 40 min Waning crescent · 23% lit
Wed6:17 AM6:42 AM6:20 PM6:44 PM11 h 38 min Waning crescent · 15% lit

Forecast from the National Weather Service forecast grid at api.weather.gov, updated by the local office through the day; the written periods and hourly digest are the NWS’s own. Outlooks from the Storm Prediction Center, the Weather Prediction Center and the Climate Prediction Center via NOAA’s map services. Records and normals from NOAA’s Global Historical Climatology Network. Sun and moon computed here. Place names from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).

What is here

Seven days
The high, the low, the chance and amount of rain and snow, the wind and the forecaster’s words for each day and night, from the National Weather Service grid for the exact cell your town sits in.
Hour by hour
Temperature, what it feels like, dew point, humidity, chance and amount of precipitation, wind and gusts, sky cover, the chance of thunder, pressure, visibility and ceiling, as a chart and as a table, with nights shaded.
Everything else on the grid
The office edits about sixty fields for every cell. The ones the mainstream forecast pages leave out are here as a daily table: HeatRisk, wet bulb globe temperature, lightning activity, mixing height, transport wind, the fire weather indices, and at the coast the waves and swell.
The discussion
The Area Forecast Discussion the forecaster wrote to explain the forecast, in their own words, with the specialist annexes folded away. Also the office’s hazardous weather outlook.
Beyond the week
The Storm Prediction Center’s severe weather category for each of the next eight days, the Weather Prediction Center’s rainfall forecast to day seven and its winter storm severity, and the Climate Prediction Center’s odds for days six to fourteen, all read at your coordinate.
Against the record
Each forecast day beside the same date at the nearest long-record station: the thirty-year normal and the record high and low with their years, so a forecast high that would break a record says so.
The next 90 days
The forecast as far as the grid, the National Blend and the global models reach, and the calendar after that: the normal and the record for every date, with the Climate Prediction Center’s lean for the weeks, the month and the season drawn over them. No made-up highs for a date three months out.

Common questions

Where does this forecast come from?

From the National Weather Service forecast grid published at api.weather.gov, the same grid the local forecast office edits through the day and the source of every forecast on weather.gov. The written periods, the hourly digest and the forecaster’s discussion are the NWS’s own products, shown as issued. Nothing here is a blend a website made.

How far ahead does it go?

The grid runs seven days ahead, hour by hour for the first days and in three to six hour steps after that. The National Blend of Models carries the days to eleven and the global models to sixteen. Beyond that the page carries the national centers’ outlooks, severe weather to day eight, rainfall to day seven, and the Climate Prediction Center’s odds for the coming weeks, month and season, over a ninety-day calendar of the normal and the record for each date. No forecast has skill day by day past about two weeks, and this page does not print one.

Why is this different from the app on my phone?

Most forecast apps show a blend of models chosen by the company that makes the app. This page shows the forecast the local National Weather Service office issues, edited by the forecasters who will also issue the warnings, and it shows all of it rather than the six numbers that fit on a phone. The discussion explains the reasoning, which no app carries.

What is a place’s address here?

Every town has its own page, such as /forecast/us/oklahoma/oklahoma-city/, and every day at a town has one too. A ZIP code typed into the search goes to the town it belongs to. Any coordinate at all can be looked up, and the page names the nearest town.

What the weather actually was · Open the live radar · Where the data comes from