Midday Nowcast: Hot, Hot, Hot

HOT, HOT, HOT: Highs will be in the upper 90s and low 100s across Alabama today and tomorrow as we remain under a strong upper ridge. The weather will be generally dry both days. Afternoon temperatures will remain in the 90s Thursday and Friday, but on these days we will mention some risk of isolated afternoon showers or storms, which could provide some temporary heat relief, but still most location will remain dry.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For August 27th, the average high for Birmingham is 90° and the average low is 70°. The record high is 103° set in 1943, while the record low is 58° set in 1968. We average 0.13” of precipitation on this date, and the record value is 1.77” set in 1992.

ACROSS THE USA: Hot to excessively hot temperatures are expected today for much of the Midwest including the Chicago and Milwaukee Metros, and a part of the Mid-Atlantic including the Philadelphia Metro, also the southern tip of Florida and a part of Puerto Rico. Severe thunderstorms are possible across the Great Lakes region and portions of the Midwest today. Damaging winds and hail are the primary threats.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND: Expect highs in the mid 90s Saturday, and low 90s Sunday and Monday as heat levels slowly begin to come down as the upper ridge weakens. We will bring the chance for random, scattered showers ands thunderstorms all three days. Most of the showers and storms will come during the afternoon and evening hours, generally between 2PM-10PM. Odds of any one spot seeing rain each day is in the 30-40 percent range, nothing unusual for the start of September in Alabama.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB kicks off their season Thursday night; they take on Alcorn State at Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham (7:00p CT kickoff)… just a small risk of a shower during the first quarter, otherwise the sky will be mostly fair with temperatures falling through the 80s, reaching the 70s by the fourth quarter.

Jacksonville State will host Coastal Carolina Thursday evening (7:00p CT kickoff); same situation there. Small risk of a shower early in the game, otherwise mostly fair with temperatures falling into the 70s by the fourth quarter.

Alabama hosts Western Kentucky Saturday evening at Bryant-Denny Stadium (6:00p CT kickoff)… a brief shower or storm can’t be ruled out during the first half, otherwise mostly fair with temperatures falling from near 89 degrees at kickoff to the upper 70s by the final whistle.

Auburn will host Alabama A&M at Jordan-Hare Stadium (6:30p CT kickoff)… again a shower or storm is possible (but not likely) during the first half, otherwise mostly fair with upper 80s at kickoff, and upper 70s by the fourth quarter.

Troy will host Nevada Saturday evening (6:00p CT kickoff)… an outside risk of a shower or storm during the first half, otherwise fair with temperatures falling from around 90 degrees at kickoff, to near 80 by the final whistle.

NEXT WEEK: The heat ridge will continue to shift to the west and we are forecasting highs in the 80s over the northern half of Alabama Tuesday through Friday… South Alabama will see low 90s. The risk of scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms will continue through the week, again, pretty typical of early September in Alabama.

AT THE BEACH: Routine late summer weather for the Alabama and Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. Random, daily afternoon showers and storms and highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Rip current threats remain low for most locations this week, but of course pay attention to the Rip Current Flag Warning System at each beach as conditions can change through out the day.

IN THE TROPICS: An area of low pressure could form in the central portion of the Tropical Atlantic in a few days. Thereafter, environmental conditions appear generally favorable for some slow development of this system this weekend into early next week as it moves westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent. Next name up is Francine.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 122.4F at Nasiriya, Iraq. The lowest observation was -87.3F at Vostok, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 111F at Tolleson, AZ. The lowest observation was 22F at Peter Sinks, UT.

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