COLD START: Here are some temperatures across Alabama just before sunrise

Fort Payne 30

Gadsden 31

Trenton 32

Bessemer 33

Hueytown 33

Cullman 34

Alexander City 34

Jasper 34

Scottsboro 34

Sylacauga 34

Evergreen 35

Birmingham 36

Greenville 36

Anniston 36

Troy 36

Huntsville 36

Eufaula 36

Tuscaloosa 38

Mobile 39

Andalusia 39

Montgomery 40

Decatur 40

Haleyville 40

Dothan 41

Enterprise 42

Gulf Shores 45

Look for a sunny sky today with a high in the 68-76 degree range this afternoon. Tomorrow will be a delightful day to start the weekend; lots of sun with a high in the 70s and low 80s.

SUNDAY/MONDAY: Moisture levels begin to rise Sunday, and a few small, isolated showers are possible by afternoon. The warming trend continues; temperatures reach the low to mid 80s over the southern half of the state.

A sharp cold front will bring a line of strong to severe thunderstorms into Alabama late Sunday night into the pre-dawn hours Monday. SPC has defined a level 2/5 risk for areas north of a line from Reform to Oneonta to Scottsboro, with a level 1/5 risk for the rest of the state.

This will be a system with very good dynamics, but marginal thermodynamics with limited instability. The main threat from the line of storms will come from strong winds, but a brief, isolated tornado can’t be ruled out, mainly over the northern third of the state.

Rain ends early Monday morning, and more cold air rolls into the Deep South. Temperatures won’t get out of the 40s Monday over North Alabama, and a freeze is likely for just all of the state by Tuesday morning with most places dipping into the 20s. Another freeze is likely early Wednesday morning for the northern 2/3 of the state.

A warming trend begins Wednesday afternoon, and afternoon highs return to the 70s by Thursday and Friday. After the rain early Monday morning, the rest of the week will be dry with sunny days and clear nights. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

ON THIS DATE IN 1954: A large F3 tornado struck Fort Mitchell, Alabama and Fort Benning, Georgia, damaging or destroying homes, buildings, and military equipment, killing two people and injuring 20 others. Another long-tracked F3 tornado began near Howard, Georgia, striking the communities Roberta, Knoxville, Lizella, Vineville and Macon, damaging or destroying over 750 homes, killing five, and injuring 75.

Alabama lawmakers advanced two bills Wednesday aimed at changing how the Alabama Public Service Commission operates and how electric rates are set.

Rep. Mack Butler’s House Bill 475 seeks to add regular oversight of Alabama Power’s rates by requiring the Public Service Commission to hold one formal rate case hearing every three years. Butler said, “I’m trying to hold the PSC accountable because I’m 62 years old and the last time they had a real rate case hearing I was still in high school. I think it’s more than time.”

Rate case hearings are formal proceedings that include sworn testimony, where utilities justify the rates they charge and present financial information.

Meanwhile, a separate PSC proposal moved quickly in the Senate after being introduced Tuesday and reaching committee Wednesday. Senate Bill 360, titled the “Power to the People Act,” would expand the commission from three members to seven by adding four new members. The bill would also freeze electric rate hikes until 2029 and prevent utilities from passing certain costs — such as lobbying or advertising — onto customers.

The legislation would also create a new cabinet-level “secretary of energy” to oversee operations at the commission. Sen. Clyde Chambliss said, “It transitions the top current staff position at PSC to a Secretary of Energy, a cabinet level appointment. That person has been and will be under the secretary responsible for the agendas and administration of the PSC.”

Chambliss said the position would not have unlimited control over the commission’s agenda due to checks and balances in the bill. “If five of the seven commission members want to add amend take away from the agenda five of the commission members can do so. It’s not absolute power,” he said.

Butler criticized the Senate proposal, saying, “I was not personally thrilled with it. I just felt like it’s growing government. As republicans our job is to shrink government and lower taxes and return more power to the people. I’m not sure that legislation is doing it.”

Unlike Butler’s House Bill 475, Senate Bill 360 does not mention open rate case hearings.

During a public hearing, two people spoke against Chambliss’ bill, including John Dodd, Energy Alabama’s policy manager. Dodd told ABC 33/40 one of his main complaints was, “It will establish a secretary of energy for the state of Alabama, something that’s not only unprecedented but is appointed. That secretary is only held accountable to the governor’s office. They have no election accountability. That it a huge problem in my eyes.”

Both bills will now head to the floor of their respective chamber.