Feeling Like Summer

Feeling more like summer today as temperatures close in on 90 degrees but showers will be hard to find.

While I can’t rule out an isolated afternoon shower, most places will remain dry today and Sunday with high temperatures climbing close to or nudging the 90 degree mark.

And the upper air weather pattern looks a lot like summer, too, as the westerlies and traveling weather systems remain well to our north along the Canadian border.  With a slight northwesterly flow and upper ridge to our west, heights should increase a bit allowing temperatures to edge into the 90s in Central Alabama once again.  A strong trough moves through the Great Lake region Monday and Tuesday and this will bring a cold front down into our area.  Precipitable water values should climb Monday and Tuesday bringing us a respectable chance for showers and thunderstorms especially into Tuesday.

Upper ridging takes hold again for Wednesday and Thursday when we will see small chances for scattered mainly afternoon and early evening showers and thunderstorms.  Another trough traversing the Great Lakes area Friday and Saturday will drag another front down into the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys, but with the main westerlies well north of us, the front is not likely to get all the way into Alabama but may be close enough to enhance our shower chances into next weekend.

Beach goers will enjoy plenty of sun while along the Gulf Coast this weekend and into next week with just a passing shower to deal with from time to time.  Temperatures along the coast will be in the mid and upper 80s for highs while lows will be warm with values in the middle 70s.  Gulf water temperature continued to rise with readings in the lower 80s at last check.

Looking well out into the future, the GFS still maintains the possibility of a tropical system in the western Gulf around the 14th or 15th.  After that, the trend is for the development of a strong ridge over the Central Plains which could spell some excessive heat for the center of the country.

I expect to have the next Weather Xtreme Video posted here on Sunday morning.  Enjoy this fine summer-like day, but be mindful of the heat and don’t try to overdo it.

-Brian-

Tags: ANCWX

Category: Alabama's Weather