Midday Nowcast: Dry through the Weekend; Tropical Mischief Next Week?

THE FINAL DAYS OF SUMMER: Today through Friday, little change in the day to day forecast with plenty of sunshine and very warm temperatures as highs will be in the upper 80s. A few spots will flirt with the 90° mark tomorrow and Friday.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The sky will be clear for the high school games across the state Friday night with temperatures falling into the 70s.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For September 18th, the average high for Birmingham is 86° and the average low is 65°. The record high is 101° set in 1927, while the record low is 46° set in 1981. We average 0.12” of precipitation on this date, and the record value is 3.33” set in 1939.

ACROSS THE USA: A low pressure system will bring heavy to excessive rainfall and high winds across Montana this afternoon. Heavy rainfall totals may lead to scattered flash flooding concerns. A line of showers and strong to severe thunderstorms will move into the mid Missouri Valley region this afternoon producing severe winds and isolated large hail with stronger storms.

WEEKEND WEATHER AND BEYOND: At this point we see a totally dry weekend for Alabama with mostly sunny warm days and fair pleasant nights. Highs will be in the upper 80s with some low 90s, while lows will be in the 60s. The quiet weather looks to continue into next week, with rain-free conditions as well with highs in the 80s. However, we will have to keep an eye on the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico for potential tropical mischief, which could bring changes to our forecast for later next week.

THIS WEEKEND: Fall officially arrives Sunday, at 7:44 AM CDT as the Autumnal Equinox occurs. This is when the sun is directly over the equator. Though many people think the day and night are the same length that day, 12 hours a piece, and that is the case over the equator. However, our day length in Birmingham will be 12 hours 7 minutes and 21 seconds.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Saturday, Auburn hosts Arkansas (2:30p CT kickoff) at Jordan-hare Stadium. The sky will be sunny with temperatures in the 87-90 degree range during most of the game.

Jacksonville State hosts Southern Miss (2:00p CT kickoff) at AmFirst Stadium… expect a sunny sky with temperatures in the upper 80s.

Troy hosts Florida A&M Saturday evening (6:00p CT kickoff)… the sky will be clear; about 85 degrees at kickoff, mid 70s by the final whistle.

IN THE TROPICS: We still have the remnant of Gordon out in the Eastern Atlantic. Showers and thunderstorms remain disorganized over the central tropical Atlantic in association with the remnants of Gordon. This system is forecast to interact with a non-tropical low to its northwest while moving north-northeastward at 5 to 10 mph during the next couple of days. Environmental conditions could become more conducive for development later this week, and a tropical depression or storm could re-form in a few days while the system moves slowly northward over the central subtropical Atlantic. Formation chance through 7 days…medium…60 percent.

Additionally, something we are going to have to watch for next week is a broad area of low pressure could form late this weekend or early next week over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Thereafter, some slow development of this system is possible through the middle of next week while it moves slowly to the north or northwest over the northwestern Caribbean Sea or the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent. This will likely drift into the southern Gulf of Mexico next week; there is no way at this time of knowing if this develops, where it goes, or the intensity. It is simply an area to watch for next week.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 110.8F at Al Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait. The lowest observation was -100.8F at Dome C, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 105F at Rio Grande Village, TX. The lowest observation was 25F at Wahsatch, UT.

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