The best time to ride a motorcycle in Alabama

Alabama rides close to year-round. North Alabama and the northeast mountains have four real seasons, with cold snaps and the occasional ice in winter. Central Alabama is warmer, and the Gulf coast is mild most of the winter and hot and stormy in summer.

The two things that shape a riding year here are heat and severe weather. Summer humidity makes midday rides hard work from June to September. Spring brings strong storms and tornadoes, and Alabama gets a second round of severe weather in late fall and early winter. Plan around both and you can ride almost every month. The best motorcycle roads in Alabama lists the best season for each classic.

April and May are prime across Alabama. The mountains go green, dogwoods bloom, waterfalls at Little River Canyon and DeSoto State Park run full, and the heat hasn't arrived. Spring break fills Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in March, so ride the coast on weekdays.

Spring is also severe weather season. Alabama sees strong storms and tornadoes from March into May, and heavy rain washes gravel and limbs onto forest roads. Check the forecast the night before and the morning of any long ride, know where you'd take shelter, and don't try to outrun a storm on a bike.

Alabama summers are long and humid, and afternoon thunderstorms pop up most days. Start at first light, be done by early afternoon, wear vented gear and drink water at every stop. The forest roads in the northeast, like the Talladega Scenic Drive and the Lookout Mountain roads, are a little cooler and shadier than the rest of the state.

On the coast, summer is beach season, with heavy traffic on Fort Morgan Road and through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Hurricane season starts June 1.

Fall is the best time to ride northeast Alabama. Cooler, drier air settles in by October, and color usually reaches Lookout Mountain, Cheaha and the Bankhead forest in late October into early November. The Barber Vintage Festival fills Birmingham in October, and see Alabama motorcycle events for the rest of the calendar.

Plan around two big crowds. Talladega Superspeedway holds big NASCAR weekends in spring and fall that jam I-20 and the roads around Talladega. On the coast, the National Shrimp Festival takes over Gulf Shores in October.

Winter is mild enough for riding on many days, especially in the south. North Alabama gets cold snaps, frost and the occasional ice or snow, which can shut mountain roads for a day or two. Wait for dry pavement and afternoon sun.

Winter has its own rewards. Bald eagles winter around Lake Guntersville, and the coast is quiet and comfortable. Mobile's Mardi Gras, which the city calls the oldest in the country, closes downtown streets for parades in the weeks before Lent.

Alabama has two severe weather seasons: a main one in spring and a second one in late fall and early winter. Tornadoes here often come with heavy rain, so they can be hard to see. On a stormy day, watch the alerts, plan your route past places you could shelter, and park the bike if a warning is issued.

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the busiest stretch usually August to October. For the Gulf coast in that window, keep a backup date and watch the National Hurricane Center. After a storm, expect sand and debris on beach roads and closed ferry service.