Much of Alabama gets zero rainfall through the end of October

Despite the rise in temperature, rain will remain a rare sight for much of the state heading into next week. Check the video forecast for the latest.SHORT-TERM CHILLAlabama's October chill is soon to recede. The mornings will retain their cool edge through the weekend, even as daytime temperatures gradually rise.Friday itself will be another beautiful, sunny day. It will be a little warmer in the afternoon as high temperatures rebound to the lower and middle 70s.High School FootballExpect a dry and cool evening for Friday's high school football games. With temperatures dipping through the 50s, it's a good idea to bring an extra layer or a blanket to stay cozy while cheering on your team.THIS WEEKENDWe will be dry from the Tennessee border to the Gulf of Mexico this weekend.There is no threat of any rain – or many clouds, for that matter – in Alabama’s forecast this weekend. That means it will be a fine situation for Fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and outdoor chores on Saturday and Sunday.Mornings will still be cool in the 40s, but the afternoon temperatures will rise day by day from the middle to upper 70s on Saturday and Sunday.Alabama, Auburn and UAB are all traveling this week, and the weather looks dry and mild for all three games.LOOKING FOR SOME RAINOctober has been bone dry in Birmingham: not a single measured drop of rain at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.The past 30 days have been very dry for most of Alabama. Most counties have had less than 25 percent of normal rainfall since Sept. 17. In fact, it has not rained in most communities since Hurricane Francine brought widespread heavy rain in the second week of September.Alabama's state climatologist, Dr. John Christy, shows a marked change in soil moisture over the past month statewide.This was mid-September:This was Thursday:We do not see any appreciable rainfall in Alabama’s forecast for at least the next seven days, and it is likely that we will not see measurable rain through the end of October. The weather pattern looks very dry and mild through the last week of the month, but we do have a little hope for some rain with a cold front arriving around Halloween.If Birmingham receives zero rainfall for October, it would be the first time that has happened in the record books dating back to 1930.TROPICAL WEATHERTropical activity typically diminishes through the end of October, but we will continue to watch for areas of development. Neither of these areas poses a threat to the United States within the next seven days. The area of tropical development in the Caribbean will likely not form into a tropical depression within the next seven days. Broad low pressure lingers over the region, producing showers and thunderstorms. The area of tropical development northeast of the Lesser Antilles will likely not form into a tropical depression within the next seven days. Broad low pressure lingers over the region, producing showers and thunderstorms as it passes near the Virgin Islands. There's a lot of tropical anxiety after five named storms made landfall along the Gulf Coast (Beryl, Debby, Francine, Helene and Milton) this season. But remember, not every area of low pressure becomes a hurricane. Stay updated with the latest forecasts from the NHC.FALL FOLIAGE Fall officially began on September 22nd, and it’s been seasonable. When will the leaves change colors? Fall Foliage typically peaks around November 8th, but it varies yearly because the cold weather impacts how quickly the leaves change. The amount of sunlight also impacts foliage. Less sunlight introduced means less chlorophyll is produced, and more foliage appears. Cooler weather also slows down the production of chlorophyll. Regardless of the foliage’s peak, we can expect more fall-like colors within the next several weeks.For the latest Birmingham weather information and Central Alabama's certified most accurate forecast, watch WVTM 13 News.Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram.