JUNE HEAT: Most Alabama communities will reach the low 90s today and tomorrow with an upper ridge in place across the Deep South. Afternoon showers will remain very widely separated. However, an organized band of thunderstorms will likely drift down into the far northern part of Alabama tomorrow evening ahead of a front…. those storms could produce strong, gusty winds before they weaken south of the Tennessee River tomorrow night.
THE WEEKEND: The upper ridge over the region will weaken, and that will open the door and an increase in the number of showers and storms over the weekend. Highest rain chances will come from noon to midnight, and the highest coverage will likely be on Sunday. But the weekend won’t be a total wash-out, and there will be intervals of sunshine.
We will maintain a good chance of showers and storms across most of the state Monday and Tuesday; rain could be heavy at times and we will have to watch for any potential flooding issues. Drier, continental air should enter the Tennessee Valley by Tuesday night… that dry air will slowly drop southward Wednesday, when the highest chance of rain will shift into South Alabama. The trend toward drier weather will likely continue Thursday and Friday although a few spotty shower are possible. Heat levels will be down next week with highs in the 80s… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: A broad area of low pressure could form over the Bay of Campeche tomorrow from a westward-moving tropical wave currently located near the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Environmental conditions are forecast to be only marginally conducive for development, and the system should move inland over eastern Mexico by late this weekend.
The chance of development is only ten percent, and the rest of the Atlantic basin is very quiet.
ON THIS DATE IN 2005: Tropical Storm Arlene made landfall near Perdido Key. As Arlene tracked inland across South Alabama, it took a path eerily similar to Hurricane Ivan just nine months prior. Since Arlene followed a very similar track as Ivan, trees that had been severely damaged by Ivan were blown down as Arlene moved inland. One of the highest wind speeds during Arlene was at the Navarre Fire Station with a recorded wind gust of 60 mph. Some South Alabama communities received over four inches of rain.
Look for the next video briefing here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
