Beneficial Rain For South Alabama Today; Drier Air For The Weekend
RADAR CHECK: Rain is relatively widespread this morning across Alabama south of I-20, and west of I-65. Rain will continue to expand this morning, but the most widespread coverage and heavier totals will be over the southern half of the state thanks to a weak low moving through the northern Gulf of Mexico. Most South Alabama communities can expect 1-2 inches of rain over the next 24 hours, but for places like Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Anniston, and Gadsden the amounts will be generally 1/4 inch or less. Some communities across the Tennessee Valley will miss the rain completely.
Temperatures will hold in the 70s for most places today thanks to clouds and rain.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A surface front will move through the state tomorrow with some risk of isolated showers; the best chance of rain will be near the Gulf Coast. But for most of the state the day will be dry with a partly sunny sky along with highs in the 80s. Any showers on Sunday will be confined to the coast, otherwise expect a partly to mostly sunny sky with highs remaining in the 80s. Most places across North Alabama will start the day in the 50s.
NEXT WEEK: The weather will be generally rain-free Monday through Wednesday, although a few showers will remain possible near the Gulf Coast and across far South Alabama. There is some potential for increasing rain chances statewide by Thursday and Friday with a weak low approaching from the south, but model output is very inconsistent and forecast confidence is low. Highs will be in the 80s through the week… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: NHC continues to monitor several “areas of interest” across the Atlantic basin, but all of them have only a low chance of development. These are the two we are watching…
*Shower and thunderstorm activity has diminished in association with a broad area of low pressure and a nearby weak front over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Upper-level winds are expected to remain unfavorable for significant development of this system while it meanders over the northwestern Gulf and eventually merges with an approaching frontal system later today or tomorrow. Although tropical cyclone development is unlikely, heavy rainfall is expected to continue across portions of the northern Gulf Coast during the next day or so. The chance of development is only 10 percent.
*Disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the northwestern Caribbean Sea are associated with a tropical wave. Development is not expected before the system reaches Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula later today. Some slow development is possible later this weekend after the system emerges over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. The chance of development is 20 percent.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: For high school games across the state tonight, some light rain is possible (if not likely) over the southern 2/3 of the state. Not expecting any lightning, however, and temperatures will be in the 70s.
Tomorrow 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 tomorrow 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 tomorrow 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 1776: Called the Pointe-à-Pitre hurricane, this storm is one of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes on record. While the intensity and complete track are unknown, this storm struck Guadeloupe on this day, killing 6,000.
ON THIS DATE IN 2017: Category 5 Hurricane Irma affected the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Maximum sustained winds were at 180 mph when the storm hit St. Thomas and St. John. Catastrophic damage was reported over the US Virgin Islands and significant damage over Puerto Rico, especially over Culebra.
Look for the next video briefing here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
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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