Rain Coverage Increasing Across Alabama Through Friday
RADAR CHECK: We have scattered showers over the southern third of Alabama this afternoon; the northern counties are dry with a good supply of sunshine. Temperatures are mostly in the 80s; Montgomery is one of the few spots reaching the 90 degree mark. Showers will remain possible across South Alabama tonight, otherwise clouds will gradually increase statewide with a low between 67 and 73 degrees.
A disturbance will bring rain to the southern half of Alabama tomorrow, and most of the state Friday. Most of the rain tomorrow will be along and south of I-20 (Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Anniston), and Friday rain is most likely south of U.S. 278 (Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden). Rain amounts from I-20 south will be in the 1-2 inch range, but the Tennessee Valley will be short changed with only light rain amounts.
Temperatures will continue to trend downward; expect highs tomorrow in the low to mid 80s, and only in the 70s Friday because of clouds, rain, and a cool low level easterly flow.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A front has potential to bring a few isolated showers to Alabama Saturday, but most of the day will be dry with a mix of sun and clouds along with a high in the 80s. A very dry airmass settles into the Deep South Sunday with a sunny sky; after starting the day in the 50s the high will be in the mid 80s for most places.
NEXT WEEK: For now much of the week looks dry with seasonal temperatures; highs in the 80s, and lows in the 50s and 60s. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: NHC continues to monitor several tropical waves across the Atlantic basin; with all of them the chance of development is low due to unfavorable environmental conditions.
The one we continue to watch carefully is a tropical wave in the Caribbean that is moving quickly westward at about 20 mph. It is producing a broad area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms across portions of the central Caribbean Sea. Some development is possible early next week when the system moves over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. The chance of development remains fairly low, at 30 percent over the next seven days.
Global models hint a depression or storm could form in the Bay of Campeche this weekend, but then they don’t do much with it as the system tries to lift northward next week… it remains simply something to watch for now.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: For high school games across the state Friday night, some rain is possible (if not likely) over the southern 2/3 of the state. Not expecting much thunder, however, and temperatures will be in the 70s.
Saturday Auburn will host California at Jordan-hare Stadium (2:30p CT kickoff)… the sky will be partly sunny, and a brief shower can’t be ruled out. Temperatures will hover in the low to mid 80s during the game.
Alabama will host South Florida Saturday evening in Tuscaloosa (6:00p CT kickoff)… the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures falling from the low 80s at kickoff, into the upper 60s by the final whistle.
UAB will be on the road; they take on Louisiana-Monroe Saturday evening (6:00p CT kickoff). The sky will be clear with about 83 degree at kickoff; temperatures drop to near 70 degrees by the fourth quarter.
ON THIS DATE IN 1941: A violent tornado ripped through Northeast and North Minneapolis shortly afternoon on this day. The hardest-hit location was the Soo Line Railroad’s Shoreham Yards where four people died, and at least 50 were injured. The death toll at Soo Line could have been higher, but the tornado struck five minutes after the lunch bell went off, meaning 100 men left the shops.
ON THIS DATE IN 2011: The center of Tropical Storm Lee moved ashore around sunrise. However, it would be a while before Lee would weaken to a depression as it remained nearly stationary while the southern half of the circulation was over water where it could continue to derive additional energy from the warm ocean. Lee brought torrential rains to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Look for the next video briefing here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos
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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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