SUNNY FALL DAY: No rain across Alabama this afternoon… with a mostly sunny sky temperatures are in the 80s statewide. Tonight will be clear and pleasant with most communities dropping into the 50s.
Heat levels will rise in coming days; many communities will see a high at or over 90 degrees over the latter half of the week as an upper ridge builds. Showers will stay few and far between through Thursday.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Showers are possible Friday, mainly over the southern half of Alabama… and summer-like temperatures continue with a high between 88 and 92 degrees for most places. Then, the weekend looks relatively wet as moisture continues to feed northward, the ridge weakens, and a surface front approaches.
The weekend won’t be a total wash-out, but periods of rain are likely Saturday and Sunday along with some potential for thunder. For now we are not expecting severe thunderstorms. Beneficial rain amounts of 1-3 inches are likely over the weekend; highs will be in the low to mid 80s.
NEXT WEEK: Drier air returns, and at this point at least the first half of the week looks dry with highs in the mid to upper 70s… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: In the Atlantic, Tropical Depression Fay should dissipate far from land by mid-week. Newly formed Tropical Storm Hanna is about 960 miles east/northeast of Bermuda. It will be another short lived, junk system that will dissipate far from land by Wednesday.
In the Pacific, Polo is making landfall on the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula this afternoon with winds of 115 mph. Hurricane and tropical storm conditions will spread across Baja California through tonight, and into mainland Mexico late tonight into early tomorrow. Moisture from Polo will support heavy rainfall and flooding potential across the Southwest U.S. into the Southern High Plains late today and tomorrow.
No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected near the U.S. or the Gulf for at least the next 7-10 days.
ON THIS DATE IN 1998: Hurricane Georges made landfall near Biloxi, Mississippi with maximum winds of 110 mph (category two strength). Georges brought a 12 foot storm surge to Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan/ The storm spawned 20 tornadoes throughout Alabama. The most devastating tornado touched down in Enterprise, causing severe damage to Camp Wiregrass and a few homes, while many residences in the city were left without electricity after numerous power lines were downed. Flooding was also a problem across South Alabama; Bay Minette’s total was 29.66″.
ON THIS DATE IN 2022: Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa in southwestern Florida as a dangerous, high-end Category 4 storm after plowing a path of destruction through the Caribbean. On the morning of Sept. 28, 2022, Ian intensified into a Category 4 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, just shy of a Category 5 storm. Ian came ashore near Cayo Costa, Florida, at 3:05 p.m. EDT with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, tying the record for the fifth-strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States.
Look for my next video briefing here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
