Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Birmingham, Alabama Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Birmingham weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Birmingham, AL
Saturday, July 4 at 9:09 PM
83
°
Overcast
Feels like
92°
Humidity
76%
Wind
3 mph
Sunrise
12:42 AM
Sunset
3:00 PM
Birmingham, AL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastBirmingham, AL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 76 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit with a 35% chance of precipitation at 6 PM.
L 76°H 93°
Birmingham, AL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    22%
    —
    93°72°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    35%
    —
    93°76°0°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    T-storm w/ Hail
    55%
    —
    85°73°-8°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Heavy Drizzle
    34%
    —
    91°71°+6°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    15%
    —
    94°72°+3°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    T-storm w/ Hail
    23%
    —
    89°75°-5°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    31%
    0.01″
    92°73°+3°
Birmingham, AL
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°72°84°96°6p12a6a12pnow 83°high 93°low 76°PRECIP %
Birmingham, AL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WNW
284° · veering 104°
Direction
WNW
284°
Sustained
3
mph
Gust
7
mph
Peak 24h
15
avg 2
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 2 · pk 15 @ 12:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 133SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 104° from the wnw.
Birmingham, AL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
993.7
+0.9 mb in 3h · rising · 29.34 inHg
Now
993.7
mb
3h
+0.9
mb
12h
-3.4
mb
24h
-2.9
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 992–997
9859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW997.4992.2993.7
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
The low is filling — pressure climbing out of storm territory.
Birmingham, AL
Air quality
71
AQI
Moderate
↑+16 in 6h

AQI 71 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI up 16 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. PM2.5 at 22.4 µg/m³ (AQI 76) with a 0.91 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
22.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
25μg/m³
NO₂Good
23μg/m³
OzoneModerate
75μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 35. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~83%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 35
UV peak
0.0 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 4

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 22.4 µg/m³ (AQI 76) with a 0.91 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.91
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³390
Birmingham, AL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
85%
MOSTLY CLOUDY
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
42.6mi
UNLIMITED
78 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
02:09 UTC · Birmingham, AL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
02:09 UTC · Birmingham, AL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Birmingham, AL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Birmingham, AL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Birmingham, AL
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:14 AM
Sunrise
12:42 AM
Daylight
14h 18m
Sunset
3:00 PM
Civil dusk
8:30 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Birmingham, AL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
77% illuminated
Moonrise
11:00 PM
Moonset
11:01 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Birmingham, AL
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Birmingham at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 5°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 8 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 35203, 35204, 35205, 35206, 35207, 35208, 35209, 35210 +23 more

16-Day Forecast — Birmingham

  1. Sat93°72°22%
  2. Sun93°75°35%
  3. Mon85°73°55%
  4. Tue91°71°34%
  5. Wed94°72°15%
  6. Thu89°75°23%
  7. Fri92°73°31%
  8. Sat90°70°58%
  9. Sun86°69°37%
  10. Mon80°68°28%
  11. Tue90°68°17%
  12. Wed94°71°21%
  13. Thu92°74°34%
  14. Fri94°73°39%
  15. Sat93°75°32%
  16. Sun96°75°36%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Birmingham

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Birmingham

SPC has placed Birmingham in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

In Birmingham, July runs warmest near 80°F and January coldest around 42°F, while March is the wettest month (5.7 inches) and October the driest (2.4 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January42°5.2″15
February46°4.7″14
March53°5.7″17
April61°4.8″15
May69°3.2″15
June77°3.6″16
July80°4.2″23
August79°4.6″22
September74°2.8″13
October65°2.4″9
November52°4.3″12
December45°5.5″15

Regional context

Birmingham swings from 42°F in January to 80°F in July (38°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Birmingham runs about 51.1 inches on roughly 185 measurable days.

Rainfall in Birmingham stays even across the calendar: March tops out at 5.7 inches over 16.7 rainy days, and October still logs 2.4 inches across 9.1 — a narrow range for Birmingham. That even rhythm groups Birmingham with places like Mountain Brook, AL, Homewood, AL and Tarrant, AL.

Around mid-March, Birmingham sheds its freezing nights — peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes go into Birmingham's beds. Birmingham's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Birmingham's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. Frost returns to Birmingham near mid-December, ending the tender-crop season. Birmingham's low ground holds frost later into spring than Birmingham's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Mountain Brook, AL, Homewood, AL, Tarrant, AL, Vestavia Hills, AL, Fultondale, AL.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the peak blooming period for Southern magnolia trees, their large white flowers opening in succession across the city's residential areas.

By early June, the distinctive calls of Mississippi kites can be heard overhead as these raptors arrive to establish summer territories in Birmingham's wooded neighborhoods.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Birmingham?
Frost typically leaves Birmingham by mid-March and returns to Birmingham near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Birmingham?
Rainfall in Birmingham peaks in March near 5.7 inches, out of about 51 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Birmingham?
On average July tops the year in Birmingham at about 80°F.
What is the coldest month in Birmingham?
The coldest stretch in Birmingham falls in January, around 42°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Birmingham?
In Birmingham, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-March; Birmingham's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Birmingham get?
Birmingham averages about 185 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Birmingham?
Since January in Birmingham averages 42°F, Birmingham's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Birmingham?
Birmingham's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Birmingham?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Birmingham in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Birmingham?
Current conditions for Birmingham and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Birmingham forecast updated?
The Birmingham forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Birmingham?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Birmingham are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Birmingham?
The next few days in Birmingham's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The humid subtropical climate of Birmingham, Alabama carries typical Januarys near 42°F and Julys around 80°F — 38°F of seasonal travel.

Rain and snow bring Birmingham roughly 51 inches a year across approximately 185 measurable-precipitation days.

From 33.5°N, Birmingham sees a 38°F seasonal swing that governs Birmingham's planting and frost windows.

All cities in Alabama →

Atlanta, GA weather →

ZIP codes in Birmingham

  • 35218
  • 35214
  • 35215
  • 35217
  • 35210
  • 35211
  • 35212
  • 35213
  • 35224
  • 35221
  • 35222
  • 35203
  • 35207
  • 35206
  • 35205
  • 35204
  • 35209
  • 35208
  • 35094
  • 35254
  • 35068
  • 35061
  • 35228
  • 35234
  • 35235
  • 35233
  • 35243
  • 35242
  • 35249
  • 35201
  • 35202
  • 35220
  • 35232
  • 35238
  • 35246
  • 35255
  • 35259
  • 35261
  • 35270
  • 35282
  • 35283
  • 35285
  • 35287
  • 35290
  • 35291
  • 35292
  • 35294
  • 35295
  • 35298

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.