Honestly, if you’re looking at the sky in Mobile right now, you’re probably seeing that classic Port City ceiling. It’s 9:30 PM on a Tuesday, January 13, and the air has that specific heavy, damp feel that only locals really recognize. Right now, it is 44°F, but it definitely feels more like 40°F thanks to a light 6 mph breeze coming off the water from the southwest.
Most people think of Alabama as a place that stays perpetually warm. They’re wrong.
Tonight is proving that. We are sitting under a mostly cloudy sky with humidity hovering at 73%. It’s the kind of night where the dampness just sort of seeps through your jacket. Earlier today, we hit a high of 59°F, which felt great under the partial sun, but the bottom is scheduled to drop out. We’re looking at a low of 32°F before the sun comes up tomorrow. Yes, freezing in Mobile—it happens more than tourists think.
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Why the Current Clouds Matter
Mobile is technically the rainiest city in the U.S. (take that, Seattle), and we’re seeing that play out in the forecast. While it's dry at this exact moment, there is a 34% chance of rain moving in overnight.
If you're out on Dauphin Street or heading home from work, you've probably noticed the wind shifting. It was a gentle northwest breeze at 5 mph earlier, but it's playing around now. The UV index is currently at 0 because, well, it’s nighttime, but tomorrow’s forecast of a 3 index means even with clouds, the sun is trying to do some work.
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Looking at the Rest of the Week
It's been a weird month. Just a few days ago, around January 10th, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency was putting out alerts for flooding rainfall and severe storm threats. We actually saw some nasty stuff across the state, including some quarter-sized hail reported by the NWS Mobile office in nearby Conecuh County on the 3rd.
The pattern we’re in right now? It's "chilly and unsettled."
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- Tonight: Cloudy with that 34% rain chance.
- The Trend: We're currently 2 degrees below the monthly average of 45°F.
- The Atmosphere: High pressure is trying to fight off a series of mid-latitude cyclones that keep dipping down from the north.
The Mobile Microclimate
You’ve got to understand that Mobile Bay acts like a giant radiator. When the water is "warm" (around 59°F for the sea temperature this month), it fights the cold fronts coming off the land. That's why we get this "mostly cloudy" soup. The humidity is currently 73%, which is actually a bit low for us—we often see it much higher, which is why the 44-degree air feels like a slap in the face rather than a crisp autumn day.
If you’re planning your morning, expect it to be grey. The clouds aren't going anywhere fast.
Actionable Tips for the Next 24 Hours
Basically, don't trust the "mostly cloudy" description to mean "dry." With a 34% chance of rain tonight and temperatures hitting the freezing mark, there’s a slim but real chance for some bridge icing if a stray shower hits at the wrong time.
- Drip the pipes: If you’re in an older home midtown, that 32°F low is the threshold where people start getting nervous.
- Layer up: The 44°F right now is the warmest you’ll be until tomorrow afternoon.
- Check the plants: If you’ve got tropicals out on the patio, bring 'em in. Mobile gardeners know that January 13th is prime time for a "freeze surprise."
Keep an eye on the southwest wind; it's carrying that moisture from the Gulf that usually turns into a thick fog by 3 AM when the temp hits the dew point. Drive safe on the I-10 Bayway tomorrow morning—it's likely going to be a soup out there.