Summer-like Today; Rain Chances Go Up Late Sunday

Some high cirrus clouds across the Alabama sky this morning, but we’re looking at another summer-like day as highs climb into the lower 90s with just the possibility of isolated showers and thunderstorms.

The remnants of Gordon will move from Missouri into the Ohio River Valley Sunday dragging a frontal boundary into the Southeast US and the Lower Mississippi River Valley. This will bring an uptick to the chances for showers and thunderstorms Sunday evening. With increased cloud cover, highs Sunday should reach the upper 80s for most of us.

Football Weather: Alabama hosts Arkansas State today in Tuscaloosa at Bryant-Denny Stadium (2:30 pm CDT kickoff); the sky will be partly to mostly sunny with just a small risk of a shower during the game. It remains hot and humid with a kickoff temperature close to 90 degrees falling back into the 80s by the fourth quarter.

Auburn will host Alabama State this evening at Jordan-Hare Stadium (6:30 pm CDT kickoff. The sky will be mostly fair with only a slight risk of a shower during the first half. Temperatures will fall from near 86 at kickoff into the upper 70s by the final whistle

And UAB travels to Conway, SC, to take on Coastal Carolina with a 6:00 pm CDT kickoff. A shower or storm is possible during the first half of the game, otherwise it will be warm and humid with temperatures falling through the 80s during the game.

NEXT WEEK: Somewhat unsettled weather for the first half of the week with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms late Sunday through Wednesday as the surface front stalls out near the Tennessee border. Highs will be in the low to mid 80s with only a limited amount of sun. Showers should thin out Thursday and Friday and temperatures warm back toward the 90-degree mark for the latter part of the week. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.

Rainfall will vary across the state from the northwest corner to the southeast corner. In the northwest corner amounts could reach 3 to 2.5 inches while the southeast corner sees lesser amounts of around three-quarters of an inch.

Tropics: We are closing in on the climatological peak of the hurricane season and there is lots of action. In the far eastern Atlantic, a well organized wave became Tropical Storm Helene. The wave near 35W could become a hurricane threatening the Leeward Islands in 4 to 5 days. Way to early to know if this one will get into the Gulf or threaten the U.S. There is an area of disturbed weather just southwest of Bermuda but conditions do not appear favorable for development.

The one to watch right now is Tropical Storm Florence. Florence for now has winds of 65 mph, but conditions favor strengthening in coming days, and the NHC forecasts the system to be a major hurricane off the Southeast U.S. coast by the middle of next week.

While there is an increasing hurricane threat to the U.S. East Coast next week, there is no skill in forecasting the exact track or intensity beyond five days. Those from Jacksonville to Cape Hatteras to southern New England need to monitor the progress of Florence through the weekend and ensure they have their hurricane plans in place.

Beach Forecast: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.

WeatherBrains: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 90 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40.

I expect to have the next Weather Xtreme Video posted here around 7 am or so on Sunday. You can always check back for the latest notes on Alabama’s weather. Have a great day and Godspeed.

-Brian-

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