Rain Possible Across Alabama Tomorrow Through Friday; Watching The Gulf
THIS AFTERNOON: The sky is partly to mostly sunny across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures in the 77-82 degree range. The sky becomes mostly cloudy late tonight with a low in the 60s.
Moisture will increase in coming days, and we will bring in a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms tomorrow and each day through Friday as a surface front stalls out just to the northwest. Rain distribution won’t be very even; any one spot will see a 40-50 percent chance of seeing rain each day. Highs will be mostly in the upper 70s.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: There is a huge amount of uncertainty due to model differences in handling the tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico. The American GFS model suggests Saturday will be a day with widespread, beneficial rain, while the European global model shows little rain at all as it keeps the tropical system far to the southwest. We will have much better clarity over the next 36-48 hours; for now we will mention a chance of rain Saturday, with a trend toward drier weather Sunday. Highs over the weekend will be in the 70s. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: Tropical Storm Rafael has formed in the Caribbean, about 175 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica. Winds are 45 mph.
The latest NHC forecast track brings it over the western tip of Cuba as a category one hurricane Wednesday, and into the southern Gulf of Mexico Thursday. From there, weakening is likely in the northern Gulf due to cooler sea surface temperatures and stronger winds aloft, producing shear. The system will have potential to bring beneficial rain to parts of the southern U.S. by Friday night and Saturday, but it is still too early to know where the highest rain coverage will be. We will have much better clarity in the next 24-36 hours.
ON THIS DATE IN 1935: Called the Yankee Hurricane, this Category 2 storm affected the Bahamas and South Florida. The storm remains the only tropical cyclone to hit Miami from the Northeast in November.
ON THIS DATE IN 1985: Heavy rains from the remnants of tropical storm Juan dropped 10 to 19 inches of rain on West Virginia and surrounding states, causing 62 deaths. A maximum rainfall amount of 19.77 inches was recorded near Montebello in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. The flood in West Virginia was considered the worst in the state’s history.
Look for my 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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