Dry Weekend Ahead; Focus On The Gulf of Mexico Next Week
DRY DAYS: Alabama’s weather won’t change much through Tuesday of next week. Mostly sunny days, fair nights. Highs in the low 90s, lows in the 60s. This is clearly the easy part of the forecast.
The challenge begins over the latter of next week as our weather will all depend on any potential tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico. The weather could be very wet and windy one week from today (Friday September 27), or it could be simply warm and dry. We will have much better clarity in a few days as the system begins to take shape in the southern Gulf. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: A broad area of low pressure could form by the early to middle part of next week over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Thereafter, gradual development of this system is possible, and a tropical depression could form as the system moves slowly to the north or northwest over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and into the southern Gulf of Mexico through the end of next week. The chance of development is now 50 percent (based on the new NHC outlook this afternoon).
We are beginning to see better agreement in global model trends; the tropical system that forms should ultimately lift northward in the direction of the northern Gulf Coast, it is still way too early to know the final outcome in terms of timing, placement, intensity, and impact.
This could be anything from a broad tropical low/rainmaker to a high impact hurricane. Impact could come anywhere from Louisiana to Florida. Those along the Gulf Coast (and those planning a trip to the coast) simply need to pay attention to tropical updates in coming days. Once the low actually forms and we get data from hurricane hunter flights forecasts will become much more specific.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: The sky will be clear for the high school games across the state tonight with temperatures falling into the 70s.
Tomorrow, Auburn hosts Arkansas (2:30p CT kickoff) at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The sky will be sunny with temperatures in the low 90s at kickoff, falling into the 80s by the fourth quarter.
Jacksonville State hosts Southern Miss (2:00p CT kickoff) at AmFirst Stadium… expect a sunny sky with a kickoff temperature near 90 degrees.
Troy hosts Florida A&M tomorrow evening (6:00p CT kickoff)… the sky will be clear; about 88 degrees at kickoff, mid 70s by the final whistle.
ON THIS DATE IN 1909: A large and deadly Category 3 hurricane made landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana during the late evening hours. The states of Louisiana and Mississippi showed catastrophic damage resulting in 371 deaths.
ON THIS DATE IN 2017: Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm. The storm left the entire island without power and nearly 3,000 people dead over the next several months.
Look for my next video briefing here by 6:00 a.m. Monday… enjoy the weekend!
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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