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

Birmingham, Alabama Weather

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

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

Birmingham, AL
Sunday, August 2 at 9:58 AM
77
°
Clear
Feels like
82°
Humidity
68%
Wind
6 mph
Sunrise
1:00 AM
Sunset
2:46 PM
Birmingham, AL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastBirmingham, AL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 69 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 69°H 82°
Birmingham, AL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Overcast
    42%
    —
    82°72°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Partly Cloudy
    18%
    —
    86°69°+4°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Drizzle
    31%
    —
    87°69°+1°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Overcast
    17%
    —
    96°73°+9°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Heavy Drizzle
    18%
    0.06″
    99°75°+3°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Light Drizzle
    30%
    —
    96°75°-3°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Light Drizzle
    27%
    —
    98°75°+2°
Birmingham, AL
Next 24 hours · Mild now
66°76°86°12p6p12a6anow 76°high 82°low 69°
Birmingham, AL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WNW
290° · veering 108°
Direction
WNW
290°
Sustained
6
mph
Gust
10
mph
Peak 24h
22
avg 6 mph
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
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 6 mph · pk 22 mph @ 8:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 144SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 108° from the wnw.
Birmingham, AL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
987.0
+0.8 mb in 3h · rising · 29.15 inHg
Now
987.0
mb
3h
+0.8
mb
12h
+1.9
mb
24h
-2.8
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 985–990
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW989.6984.9986.8
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Birmingham, AL
Air quality
44
AQI
Good
→-1 in 6h▲Peak ~51 @ 8 PM

AQI 44 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 12.2 µg/m³ (AQI 57) with a 0.99 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in stagnant air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 8 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
12.2μg/m³
PM 10Good
12μg/m³
NO₂Good
3μg/m³
OzoneModerate
80μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
2.6

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 38. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~62%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 38
UV peak
5.2 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 13

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 12.2 µg/m³ (AQI 57) with a 0.99 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in stagnant air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.99
Wind
light
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
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
51.0mi
UNLIMITED
57 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
14:58 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
14:58 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 · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
5:34 AM
Sunrise
1:00 AM
Daylight
13h 46m
Sunset
2:46 PM
Civil dusk
8:15 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Birmingham, AL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:29 PM
Moonset
9:51 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Birmingham, AL
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Birmingham at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 8°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 8 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

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

16-Day Forecast — Birmingham

  1. Sun82°72°42%
  2. Mon86°69°18%
  3. Tue87°69°31%
  4. Wed96°73°17%
  5. Thu99°75°18%
  6. Fri96°75°30%
  7. Sat98°75°27%
  8. Sun95°78°27%
  9. Mon96°77°28%
  10. Tue97°76°27%
  11. Wed98°77°24%
  12. Thu96°76°36%
  13. Fri98°77°33%
  14. Sat97°74°33%
  15. Sun99°76°33%
  16. Mon93°73°39%

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

Live wind & temperature near Birmingham

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, 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 includes Birmingham in the general thunderstorm area tomorrow — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYNONENo severe risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

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.

Sun & seasons in Birmingham

Birmingham sits in Jefferson County, where the year’s longest day runs 14h 23m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 56m — a swing of +4h 27m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Huntsville, the state’s largest city, lies about 81 miles to the N. The nearest town Birmingham tracks is Graysville, roughly 13 miles to the NW.

Air quality in Birmingham’s county has trended dirtier since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2025 (median AQI 52). See the full air-quality history for Birmingham.

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 · August 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

Sunset slides back toward 8 PM; darkness creeps in, signaling summer's decline though heat persists.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 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.