Cold and dry to ring in 2016

NEW YEAR’S DAY: To start 2016, expect temperatures mainly in the mid-40s. Most data suggest the clouds will remain for most of the morning before some partial clearing will occur by afternoon. Low of 37 and a high of 51.

Today will feature mostly cloudy skies with the potential for some drizzle or snow flurries. We’ll ring in the New Year with wind chills in the teens for much of the night.

NEXT WEEK: Temperatures looks fairly close to normal with lows in the lower 30 and highs in the lower 50s.

Temperatures will stay in the 40s and 50s through Saturday.

Tonight we’ll continue to see a good bit of clouds hang around. Highs will be in the 30s to lower 40s with a westerly breeze.

Yesterday’s data supported some lower 50s early next week along with south winds Monday into Tuesday, but overnight data suggest a front may slide southward across the northern part of the state bringing light winds but cooler air for the northern sections Monday and Tuesday.

Much of the country will be under the influence of a broad area of high pressure.

NEXT RAIN CHANCES: After the past week of persistent rainfall, where many locations across South-Central Alabama received rainfall totals of 5-15 inches of rain, we are going to have several days of dry weather, which will give us all a chance to dry out.

There is a 20 percent chance of rain this New Year’s Eve.