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PLEASANT AUGUST MORNING: Another comfortable August morning with temperatures mostly in the 60s. Anniston reached a high of only 76 degrees yesterday, which broke the old record maximum for date of 77 set in 1969. The high atop Mount Cheaha was only 66 degrees; afternoon temperatures hovered between 62 and 64. Just remarkable for the middle of August in Alabama.
While we will forecast a chance of scattered showers around here later today and tonight, the most widespread rain will come under a deep moisture axis over far deep South Alabama, and up into Georgia. There is a flash flood watch up for the southeast corner of Alabama… including places like Dothan, Ozark, and Geneva. Like yesterday, clouds will be thicker over the eastern half of the state where many places will have a hard time getting out of the 70s… West Alabama will be brighter with more sun and a high in the low to mid 80s. Chance of any one spot getting wet around here (North/Central Alabama) this afternoon is about one in three.
OUR WEEKEND: The really widespread, soaking rains will remain south and east of here. Mobile and Dothan should see a wet weekend; up this way showers and thunderstorms will be more scattered in nature, but no doubt it will rain on us a time or two both tomorrow and Sunday. Some sun is possible, especially over West Alabama, and temperatures remain well below average with highs only in the low to mid 80s; some East Alabama communities will continue to see highs only in the upper 70s over the weekend.
While the best chance of a shower here will come during the afternoon and evening hours, we can’t rule out a late night or morning shower in spots.
NEXT WEEK: Temperatures should be a little warmer next week, with mid to upper 80s, but I still don’t think we see many places at 90. Each day will feature a mix of sun and clouds, and also each day there will be some risk of scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon and evening hours.
TROPICAL WEATHER: Looks like a big wave will emerge off the coast of Africa over the weekend, we will be watching that one. Otherwise, Tropical Storm Erin is moving west/northwest in the eastern Atlantic. The system will be dealing with very dry air, and I am not sure it survives the journey. And, we note most models now show Erin recurving into the open Atlantic, and it seems like it won’t be a threat to land if by chance it does hang in here.
The tropical wave over the Yucatan Peninsula is very ill defined, and almost all models push this feature toward Mexico or the southern part of Texas. Not sure this will be able to develop with marginal environmental conditions, but it won’t bother us one way or another.
GULF COAST WEATHER: Unfortunately there won’t be much sunshine through the weekend. Expect mostly cloudy conditions from Panama City over to Gulf Shores with occasional showers and thunderstorms through Monday. The rain could be heavy at times, and a flash flood watch is up for Panama City. Highs will be in the 80s, and the sea water temperatures are mostly in the mid 80s. The weather should be brighter on the coast by the middle of next week with fewer showers and thunderstorms.
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