HOT SEPTEMBER AFTERNOON: The sky is mostly sunny at midday with temperatures rising quickly into the 90s across Alabama. A few isolated showers could show up later today or early tonight, but most places will stay dry.
The large scale upper high on top of us will keep the weather hot and mostly dry through the weekend. Any afternoon showers or storms will be very isolated; chance of any one spot getting wet daily is 10-20 percent.
The heat is the big story; for most communities afternoon highs will be in the 95-100 degree range through Sunday. This about 10 degrees above average for mid-September, and very close to record levels. Tuscaloosa hit 101 yesterday, which was a new record high for the date (the old record was 100 set in 1980).
NEXT WEEK: The upper ridge weakens a bit, and after Monday afternoon highs will be in the 85-90 degree range. Still no sign of any widespread rain event, or major cold front that will get us down in the 40s and 50s at night. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: A trough of low pressure located well east-southeast of Bermuda continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive for development in a few days, and a tropical depression could form late this week as the system moves slowly westward to west-northwestward over the subtropical Atlantic.
Chance of development is 40 percent; no tropical storms or hurricanes are expected near the U.S. for at least the next seven days.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: Alabama will host Florida State Saturday afternoon (2:30p CT kickoff at Bryant-Denny)… it will be another very hot September day in Tuscaloosa. Temperatures will be in the 95-100 degree range during most of the game. The chance of a cooling shower is low, but not zero.
Auburn hosts Florida Saturday evening (6:00p CT kickoff at Jordan-Hare); temperatures will fall from the upper 80s at kickoff into the upper 70s by the final whistle. Any showers across East Alabama will be very isolated.
North Alabama plays their first game in the new Bank Independent Stadium/Bobby Wallace Field Saturday evening against Alcorn State (6:00p CT kickoff). Expect low 90s at kickoff, upper 70s by the final whistle.
Expect similar weather for the Saturday evening home games at Jacksonville State, South Alabama, and West Alabama.
ON THIS DATE IN 1945: A hurricane entered the south Florida coast at Homestead, curving northward right up through the center of Florida, remaining over land, and exited near Jacksonville Beach with winds gusting to 170 mph. The following is from the Homestead Air Reserve Base. “On Sept. 15, 1945, three years to the day after the founding of the Homestead Army Air Field, a massive hurricane roared ashore, sending winds of up to 145 miles per hour tearing through the Air Field’s buildings. Enlisted housing facilities, the nurses’ dormitory, and the Base Exchange were all destroyed. The roof was ripped from what would later become building 741, the Big Hangar. The base laundry and fire station were both declared total losses. The few remaining aircraft were tossed about like leaves.”
Look for the next video briefing here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
