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Looks like we will have plenty to discuss here in coming weeks with a more active pattern here across the Deep South, and the tropics coming alive.
SHORT TERM: The summer heat has gone on vacation. How about that for August in Alabama; we noted that some spots in West Alabama and Mississippi were in the upper 60s at mid-afternoon yesterday with light rain falling. Today, temperatures won’t get out of the mid to upper 80s due to clouds, but the best chance of showers will stay over the western and southern part of the state. We will just mention a few scattered showers in the forecast through tonight.
TOMORROW: This looks like a relatively wet day; I use a question mark in the headline simply because it is very anomalous to have such a wet day this time of the year, but a wave of low pressure moving along a stalled surface front should bring periods of rain and a few thunderstorms to most of Alabama, with perhaps the exception of the Tennessee Valley. One-half inch of rain is likely, with isolated amounts up to one inch. I don’t think we will have a problem with severe weather due to the lack of instability (we might have a hard time getting out of the low 80s with clouds and rain!).
WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: As the wave passes on to the east, drier air noses back down into North Alabama, and most of the showers on these days should be over South Alabama. Temperatures also warm up a bit, reaching the 87 to 90 degree range; maybe even low 90s on Thursday.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: This period looks pretty wet, especially Saturday and Sunday, as another rather strong system for summer impacts the Deep South. Some beneficial rain is possible, and temperatures will remain well below average for August in Alabama.
LONG RANGE: Looks like below average temperatures and above average rain for Alabama for the rest of August. I sure like the sound of that.
TROPICS: We have two good looking waves in the Central Atlantic, and both of them have a chance to become tropical storms, and perhaps hurricanes. The trailing wave (around 28W) actually looks better organized this morning.
Most of the models take the lead wave toward the Bahamas or the Florida Keys; our friends in South Florida will be watching this one very closely. Some potential for an Andrew type track, with an entry into the Gulf of Mexico.
All of this, of course, is voodoo for now. But there is a very real chance we will have one, perhaps two, tropical cyclones threatening the U.S. coast in 5 to 10 days.
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Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 this afternoon… enjoy the day!
