Unsettled Weather Continues Through Saturday; Drier Sunday
RADAR CHECK: Large areas of rain and a few thunderstorms are seen across North/Central Alabama this afternoon. Stronger storms are producing very heavy rain, gusty winds, and lots of lightning. A few flash flood warnings have been required today, and isolated flooding issues will remain possible through the evening hours. Where rain is falling temperatures are in the 70s, but to the south we are seeing mostly low 90s over South Alabama, where showers are much more scattered in nature.
The weather won’t change much tomorrow and Saturday; expect more clouds than sun with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms both days. Like today, rain could be heavy in spots, and temperatures will remain below average high highs mostly in the 84-88 degree range.
SUNDAY AND NEXT WEEK: An upper ridge begins to build over the region, and the weather trends hotter and drier Sunday. With a partly to mostly sunny sky, the high will be around 90 degrees with just a few isolated afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Highs will climb into the low to mid 90s Monday and Tuesday with a good supply of sunshine both days; showers should be scarce. Then, as the ridge weakens, scattered showers and storms will become more numerous over the latter half of the week with highs back around 90 degrees. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: Grace has weakened to a tropical storm; it is inland over the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. It will emerge into the Bay of Campeche tonight, and the next landfall comes along the coast of Mexico, far south of Brownsville, Texas, tomorrow night as a category one hurricane. This track is far south of the U.S., but even with that being the case Grace will stir the pot and bring the risk of rip currents to the central Gulf Coast tonight and tomorrow.
Over in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Henri is expected to become a hurricane in about 24 hours between Bermuda and the U.S. east coast. The latest NHC forecast has the system very close to Cape Cod late Sunday night and Monday morning as an upper end tropical storm. It should be noted that as Henri gains latitude and moves near New England, the wind field is expected to expand, and impacts will be possible far from the center.
The rest of the Atlantic basin is quiet.
ON THIS DATE IN 1991: Hurricane Bob makes landfall in Rhode Island as a Category 2 hurricane. Eighteen fatalities were reported in association with Bob; the loss of life and most of the damage occurred as a result of high winds and rough seas. There were six confirmed tornadoes during its passage. Bob is the last hurricane to hit the New England states directly as a hurricane. It was the only hurricane to make landfall in the contiguous United States during the 1991 season.
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James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.Subscribe
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