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FABULOUS FALL WEATHER: A fresh surge of cool, dry air moves into Alabama today. We will enjoy a deep blue fall sky with a high in the mid to upper 60s. We will drop into the upper 30s early tomorrow, with potential for a light freeze across the colder valleys of North Alabama. Then, more sunshine during the day tomorrow with a high in the 68 to 72 degree range.
WEEKEND WEATHER: We stay dry for a change. Sunny Saturday; partly sunny Sunday with highs in the low to mid 70s.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: For a change we have some great weather to discuss this week. For tomorrow night’s high school playoff games, the sky will be clear with a kickoff temperature near 64 degrees, dropping into the 50s during the second half. Saturday, Alabama hosts LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa (2:30 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be sunny with 73 degrees at kickoff, with temperatures falling back into the 60s during the second half. Very similar weather for the Auburn/Furman game at Jordan-Hare Stadium; lots of sunshine with temperatures in the 69 to 72 degree range during the game. UAB celebrates homecoming Saturday, as the Blazers host Florida Atlantic at Legion Field (1:00 p.m. kickoff). A sunny sky for that game with a kickoff temperature near 71 degrees.
NEXT WEEK: Moisture returns; a shower is possible late Monday, but it looks like the better chance of showers will hold off until Tuesday. Nothing too heavy and nothing severe, but occasional showers seem likely by Monday night and Tuesday. Confidence is not high in a forecast during the latter half of the week, but the 06Z GFS hints a few showers could show up by Friday. See the Weather Xtreme video for details.
IDEAS ON IDA: This is an interesting situation in the deep tropics. Ida is just under hurricane strength now, on the coast of Nicaragua. Some weakening is likely in the short term, but it is expected to strengthen again tomorrow as the center of circulation is back over water. Most models then move the system across the tip of the Yucatan peninsula, and then into the far southern Gulf of Mexico. We note the GFDL goes nuts and ramps this thing up to a 157 knot hurricane near the western tip of Cuba in 120 hours, but other models are much more conservative. We have to remember the water down in the Caribbean is very warm, and it has not been disturbed by any tropical action this year, so the idea of Ida becoming a major hurricane is not out of the question.
The good news is that SSTs really drop off rapidly as you go north in the Gulf of Mexico. The water along the coast near Mobile Bay is only around 65 degrees (F), so that should make everyone feel much better around here. But, our friends in South Florida will have to keep a very close eye on Ida with warm water in place down there. The GFS brings Ida toward Southwest Florida by the middle of next week; see the Weather Xtreme video for full details and all the graphics.
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 30 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. You can even listen here on the blog; look for the player on the top left.
STORM ALERT XTREME: Want to be trained as a storm spotter? Want to join the ABC 33/40 Skywatcher team? Our annual training event, Storm Alert Xtreme, is coming up on Saturday November 14 at the BJCC during the annual Birmingham International Auto Show. You will be trained by the best SKYWARN trainer in the nation, our own Brian Peters (he has trained over 6,000 Alabama storm spotters over the years). We encourage all of our Skywatchers to attend this every year; you simply cannot get enough training. We will begin at 9:30, and be out by 3:30. And, everyone that attends Storm Alert Xtreme gets free admission to the Alabama International Auto Show. There is no admission charge, and no need to register. Just show up, but get there early for a good seat. We had a packed house last year.
Look for the next Weather Xtreme video by 3:30 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
