Midday Nowcast: Clearing Sky and Less Humid

FINALLY FRIDAY: Much drier air is dropping into Alabama today, and the morning clouds are giving way to a sunny sky across much of the state. It is still warm out there, but you can notice the lower humidity across the state; highs are in the mid to upper 80s. Tonight will feature a clear sky and with upper 50s and lower 60s.

AIR QUALITY ALERTS: The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, ADEM, has issued an Air Quality Alert for Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Under Code Orange conditions, ground level ozone concentrations are expected to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children and people with asthma are individuals most at risk under these expected conditions. Other counties having air quality issues today are Morgan, Madison, Mobile, and Baldwin.

ACROSS THE USA: Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to be transported south by winds into the U.S. resulting in moderate to unhealthy air quality across parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, Midwest, and Southeast today. Some improvement is expected this weekend. Excessive rainfall may bring areas of flooding from far northern Washington across central Montana, and into western South Dakota Friday.

THE WEEKEND: Tomorrow will be a mostly sunny day with a high around 90°, but humidity levels will be lower over the northern half of the state. Showers will be confined to the far counties of the state. By Sunday, moisture begins increase, and so will with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. The SPC has introduced a “slight risk” (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms for the northwest corner of the state, with a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) down to Northport, Gardendale, and Centre.

Stronger storms Sunday will be capable of producing strong winds and some hail. It won’t rain all day, but a few periods of rain are likely with highs in the 80s.

NEXT WEEK: Routine June weather for next week…Partly sunny days with the those daily scattered showers and storms, highs will be in the mid to upper 80s. If you see more sunshine, afternoon highs in the 90s will be possible. The hotter temperatures to end the week, may hold off for now.

IN THE TROPICS: All is quiet in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and the open waters of the Atlantic. No development expected into next week.

BEACH FORECAST CENTER: Get the latest weather and rip current forecasts for the beaches from Fort Morgan to Panama City on our Beach Forecast Center page. There, you can select the forecast of the region that you are interested in visiting.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 118.4F at Basrah-Hussen, Iraq. The lowest observation was -91.3F Vostok, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 102F at Rio Grande Village, TX. The lowest observation was 26F at Peter Sinks, UT.

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