Midday Nowcast: Awesome August Weather

The weather is dry with lower humidity and cooler nights. For the northern third of the state, highs will be in the mid to upper 80s through the week, with lows well down in the 60s. Many communities will dip into the 50s early Wednesday morning for a nice preview of fall. For the southern counties, highs will be in the low 90s, but the lower humidity levels will make the summer heat feel more comfortable. Late this week, a some moisture will work in from the southeast, and we will mention a few isolated showers over our southeastern counties.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For August 20th, the average high for Birmingham is 91° and the average low is 71°. The record high is 102° set in 1925, while the record low is 58° set in 1927. We average 0.15” of precipitation on this date, and the record value is 2.97” set in 1920.

ACROSS THE USA: A strong storm moving across the Bering Sea will bring coastal flooding, high winds and surf to western Alaska over the next couple of days. Scattered severe storms capable of producing large hail and severe winds will be possible today mainly over portions of central Montana. Meanwhile, the ongoing heatwave in the south will continue through much of this week.

WEEKEND WEATHER: The pattern will not change much, so the weekend looks great as well. It will be generally dry with only isolated showers across the southern counties. Highs will be mostly in the low 90s Saturday and Sunday, and with the lower humidity levels it will remain tolerable for late August.

NEXT WEEK: Heat levels rise, and afternoon temperatures go back in the mid 90s next week. And, the pattern continues to look dry with only isolated showers.

ERNESTO: Ernesto has become post-tropical and is moving toward the northeast near 37 mph, and an even faster east-northeastward motion is expected during the next day or two. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is expected tonight and on Wednesday, and post-tropical Ernesto is forecast to merge with a frontal system and dissipate by late Wednesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 987 mb (29.15 inches).

The rest of the Atlantic remains quiet as Saharan Dust continues to limit tropical cyclone development for now.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 123.8F at Basrah-Hussen, Iraq. The lowest observation was -81.9F at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 116F at Death Valley, CA. The lowest observation was 30F at Covington, MI.

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