Higher Rain Chances Ahead For Alabama
RADAR CHECK: We have scattered showers mainly over the western half of Alabama this afternoon… moving northward. Away from the showers we have a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the 80s. We will maintain the chance of a few passing showers tonight, mostly over the western counties.
Moisture levels will rise across Alabama and the Deep South in coming days, meaning rain coverage will increase on a daily basis. Look for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms tomorrow with a high in the low 80s. Then, Wednesday and Thursday look pretty wet with occasional rain and some thunder as well as the remnant circulation of Tropical Storm Nicholas moves into West Mississippi; temperatures will likely remain in the 70s both days because of clouds and rain.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Deep moisture will remain across Alabama, so the sky will be occasionally cloudy Friday through Sunday with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms each day. Chance of any one spot getting wet Friday is 60-70 percent, and 50-60 percent over the weekend. Highs will be mostly in the low 80s.
NEXT WEEK: Not much change; moist air means some risk of at least scattered showers and thunderstorms on a daily basis with highs in the low to mid 80s. See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICAL STORM NICHOLAS: Nicholas has winds of 60 mph, and the center is about 70 miles south/southeast of Port Aransas, Texas. Landfall will come tonight along the middle Texas coast.
Heavy rainfall will impact portions of the Texas and Louisiana coasts through the middle of the week. Significant rainfall amounts are possible (6-10 inches), potentially resulting in areas of life-threatening flash and urban flooding, especially in highly urbanized metropolitan areas (including Houston). Minor to isolated moderate river flooding is also expected.
There is the danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along the coast of Texas from Port Aransas to Sabine Pass.Residents in these areas should follow any advice given by local officials. The remnant low will move through Louisiana Wednesday, and the system will dissipate over West Mississippi Thursday morning.
OTHER AREAS TO WATCH IN THE TROPICS: An area of low pressure is forecast to form by midweek a couple of hundred miles north of the southeastern or central Bahamas as a tropical wave interacts with an upper-level trough. Some gradual development of this system is possible thereafter, and a tropical depression could form later this week while the system moves north-northwestward or northward across the western Atlantic. This will move parallel to the U.S. East Coast, but will likely remain offshore.
And, a tropical wave located over the far eastern tropical Atlantic is producing an area of disorganized cloudiness and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for gradual development of this disturbance over the next several days, and a tropical depression is likely to form by late this week while the system moves westward at about 15 mph across the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. Too early to know if this will impact the Lesser Antilles or the U.S.
ON THIS DATE IN 1979: Hurricane Frederic, was moving northward through Mobile Bay during the pre-dawn hours, after making landfall the night before on September 12. A wind gust of 145 miles per hour was measured on equipment atop the Dauphin Island Bridge. The bridge was destroyed. A wind gust of 139 mph was measured at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab before the equipment failed. A storm surge of 12 feet was observed in Gulf Shores. Nearly all structures within 200 yards of the Alabama coast were destroyed. There were two fatalities as a direct result of Frederic. Total damages were 2.3 billion dollars, making Frederic the most expensive hurricane ever to strike the United States up to that point.
ON THIS DATE IN 1988: Hurricane Gilbert smashed into the Cayman Islands, and as it headed for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico strengthened into a monster hurricane, packing winds of 175 mph. The barometric pressure at the center of Gilbert reached 888 mb, a record for any hurricane in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, or the Atlantic Ocean until Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Gilbert covered much of the Gulf of Mexico, producing rain as far away as the Florida Keys.
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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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