Alabama Weather Overview
As a humid subtropical state, Alabama is characterized by hot, humid summers and cool winters, similar to its fellow southeastern states. However, the humid subtropical classification is not exclusive to North America. Were you to travel the world, similar weather patterns could be found as far south as eastern Argentina and the southern tip of Brazil. Moving across the globe, Much of Japan, southeastern China and eastern Australia boast humid subtropical climates. Actually, all of these areas of the world have similar positional qualities in that they are bordered by ocean to their East. From a latitudinal perspective, they are also almost mirrors of one another reflected across the equator. This equatorial equidistance is responsible for similar temperatures, though the seasons are inverted due to global rotation patterns. Southern Hemisphere regions like Australia, Argentina and Brazil will feel the heat of Summer while China, Japan and the United States endure the chillier months of Winter.Of course, while the entire state lies in a humid subtropical climate, weather can vary significantly across the state of Alabama itself. When examined cumulatively, the average annual temperature in the state is 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). This is greatly influenced by particularly hot summers, averaging 90 degrees Fahrenheit statewide. It is also a beacon for storms, with hurricanes focused on the northern part of the state and the south subject to the occasional hurricane. All in all, Alabama’s menacing clouds result in an average of 56 inches of rain per year. On the bright side, once the sun comes out this leads to a lengthy growing season for Alabama’s agricultural community, counting up to 300 days in certain parts of the state.Winters in Alabama are much more mild than in other parts of the country. The average low in the extreme Winter month of January in Mobile is just 40 degrees Fahrenheit, dipping slightly as the state pans north to Birmingham, where lows hover around 32 degrees, but still equally likely to stay above the freezing point. Snow is a rarity, though parts of Alabama will occasionally wake up to a white morning, often resulting in school and office closings at the mere threat of a wintery mix.