Rainy and Cooler Days

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It has taken awhile for the effects of Lee to reach us, but a weakening outer band has brought a small amount of light rain to Central Alabama this morning. Rain will continue to increase as Lee meanders slowly northeastward over the next couple of days. The combination of clouds and rain will keep us much cooler than what is usual for early September – a welcome relief from the heat in my opinion! In fact, some places are like to see highs only reaching the upper 70s today.

Lee is the focus of attention in weather circles as the center has made landfall in Central Louisiana. I use the term “landfall” somewhat loosely because Lee is on the coast but the slow motion and drift of Lee may take the center back over water briefly. Radar this morning did show some light rain in Central Alabama with a large blob of heavier rain in the area just south of Montgomery. So look for rain off and on over the next two to three days as Lee or its remnants slowly move northeastward across Central Alabama.

A flash flood watch is in effect until Tuesday for Central Alabama due to the potential for heavy rain with Lee. Rainfall amounts are likely to be in the 5 to 9 inch range over the next several days. While we are in good shape initially due to the dryness we experience in August, the repeating of rain over the same area for the next couple of days will change those conditions. Flash flooding should become likely by midday on Monday and continue into Tuesday. Once the rain moves out of here on Wednesday, river flooding may occur on some of the larger streams due to excessive rainfall.

Yesterday the GFS was picking up Lee and moving it off to the northeast with the trough which is moving across the Great Lakes this morning. The latest GFS runs suggests that the Great Lakes trough will miss picking up Lee and leave a weak closed low over the Ohio River Valley. I am concerned that the GFS is underestimating the rain potential with this system up there. But as the upper low moves away from North Alabama, our weather should improve on Wednesday though scattered showers will remain a possibility. And due to the proximity of that upper low, showers are possible into next weekend.

Temperature-wise, we are in store for some much cooler days due to the combination of rain and clouds. Look for highs through Tuesday to range from the upper 70s to lower 80s. Some spots probably won’t see highs much above 78 or 79. By Wednesday and the latter part of the week, look for highs to climb into the lower 80s – maybe even approach the mid 80s. Nice when compared to the mid and upper 90s of recent days.

SPC has a slight risk outlook in parts of the Southeast along and generally to the right of the projected track of Lee. There is also an area of slight risk over the eastern Great Lakes into New England ahead of the cold front and the upper trough moving through that area.

Flash flood watches have been issued for a large section of the Southeast from Central Mississippi to western North Carolina.

Looking out into voodoo country, there is an interesting surprise coming out of the western Caribbean for us around the 14th of the month! Take a look at the video to see what this surprise might be.

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Thanks for staying tuned. There will be additional updates throughout the day with information on the latest weather happenings for Central Alabama. I hope you have a great day and Godspeed.

-Brian-

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Category: Alabama's Weather