If you’ve lived in Central Alabama for more than a week, you know the drill. You wake up and it’s basically winter in the Arctic. By lunch? You’re considering a light sweater. By sunset, you might be looking at a stray snowflake or a torrential downpour. Honestly, looking at a 14 day forecast for Birmingham Alabama is less like reading a scientific document and more like trying to predict the mood of a caffeinated toddler.
Right now, we are sitting in that classic mid-January stretch where the "Magic City" earns its name by making the sun disappear and reappear whenever it feels like it.
📖 Related: How Many Tsp in a Pound: Why Your Kitchen Scale is Better Than a Spoon
The Current Rollercoaster: January 17 through January 30
Looking at the immediate numbers for today, Saturday, January 17, we have a high of 51°F. That’s pretty standard for a Birmingham winter afternoon. But don't let the "mostly sunny" label fool you into leaving your coat at home. Tonight, the floor drops out. We are looking at a low of 26°F.
Wait, it gets weirder. There is a 10% chance of snow tonight.
In Birmingham, a 10% chance of snow is usually just enough to make everyone run to Publix for bread and milk, but realistically, it’s probably just going to be a cold, damp night.
Breaking Down the Next Few Days
- Sunday, Jan 18: The sun stays out, but the warmth does not. Expect a high of only 42°F and a bone-chilling low of 25°F.
- Monday, Jan 19: A bit of a "warm-up" to 46°F, though we’ve got a slight 15% chance of some light snow flurries during the day.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Sunny and crisp. High 43°F, Low 23°F. This is the kind of weather where your pipes start to get nervous.
Historically, January is our coldest month. The National Weather Service in Birmingham (BMX) notes that while sub-zero temperatures are super rare, we spend a lot of time hovering right around that freezing mark.
💡 You might also like: What Happens to Landfill Waste When Nobody Is Watching
Why the Birmingham Forecast Changes So Fast
You've probably noticed that one day the 14-day outlook shows clear skies, and twelve hours later, it’s calling for a "wintry mix." This isn't because the meteorologists are messing with you. It’s the Gulf of Mexico.
Birmingham sits in this weird geographic sweet spot—or sour spot, depending on your plans—where cold Canadian air masses collide with moisture-rich air from the Gulf. When those two meet over I-65, things get messy.
By Wednesday, January 21, the moisture starts winning. We jump up to a high of 54°F, but it comes with clouds and a 25% chance of rain overnight.
👉 See also: Carl Junction Missouri County Explained: What Most People Get Wrong
The Out-Year Outlook (The Second Week)
As we push into the tail end of the 14 day forecast for Birmingham Alabama, things start to look a bit more "Alabama typical."
- Friday, Jan 23: High 56°F / Low 33°F (Partly sunny).
- Saturday, Jan 24: High 60°F / Low 45°F (Cloudy with a 35% chance of rain at night).
- Sunday, Jan 25: This looks like the wettest day of the bunch. 70% chance of rain with a high of 55°F.
By Monday, January 26, we see that classic Birmingham cycle repeat. High of 48°F with rain, followed by a 40% chance of snow showers as the temperature drops to 29°F overnight.
Practical Tips for Surviving the 14-Day Swing
Don't trust the high temperature. Seriously. If the forecast says 50 degrees, remember that the morning started at 25. Layering isn't just a fashion choice here; it's a survival strategy.
Check the wind chill. On Thursday, January 22, the high is 51°F, but with a 10 mph north wind, it’s going to feel significantly sharper than that.
Keep an eye on the "Southeast Snow." The National Weather Service is currently tracking a secondary impulse for later this weekend. While confidence is currently low for any major accumulation—most models suggest less than a quarter-inch if anything at all—it only takes a tiny shift in the moisture track to change a cold rain into a local emergency.
Basically, keep your umbrella in the car but keep your heavy coat on the passenger seat. The 14 day forecast for Birmingham Alabama is currently a mix of deep freezes and soggy afternoons.
Next Steps for Your Week:
- Drip your faucets on Tuesday night when the temperature hits 23°F.
- Plan your outdoor errands for Saturday afternoon (Jan 24) when we hit 60°F.
- Keep a close watch on Monday, January 26, for that potential rain-to-snow transition during the evening commute.