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WARM AND MUGGY: Temperatures across North-Central Alabama this afternoon are generally in the mid 80s, with rising dewpoints, mostly in the low 70s. This is giving the day a summer feel, and like a summer day there is still some risk of a few isolated showers and storms forming during the next few hours. Nothing widespread, and anything that develops should fall apart pretty quickly after sunset.
TOMORROW AND THE WEEKEND: A cold, deep upper trough is forming west of Alabama, and that will bring a surface front our way in slow fashion, setting up a wet beginning to the weekend. Tomorrow, our weather will remain very warm; both the GFS and the NAM are printing 89 degrees for Birmingham. If we reach that, it will be within two degrees of the record high for October 9, 91 set back in 1941. A few scattered showers could break out during the afternoon tomorrow, but the main band of showers and storms won’t arrive until tomorrow night. In fact, it looks like it could be midnight or a little later when the most organized batch of rain and storms arrives, so there is a a number of the high school football games will be played with rain-free conditions. But, that is no guarantee; a few showers are definitely possible during the afternoon and evening hours, so we still suggest you take the rain gear.
Saturday looks like a very wet day, with periods of rain and a few thunderstorms. We are projecting rain amounts of 1 to 2 inches statewide late tomorrow night and Saturday, with locally heavier amounts. The rain will taper off Saturday night as the front sags southward. For now, a major severe weather problem is not expected, but we do note SPC has put the northwest corner of the state in a slight risk for tomorrow evening.
By Sunday, drier air tries to ease into North Alabama. I am not sure we see much sun, but on the other hand it looks like the best chance of rain Sunday will be over the southern counties of the state.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: For high school games this evening, the weather looks generally good. Only a small risk of a shower during the game and temperatures will be in the 70s. We understand that many high schools switched their games to tonight instead of Friday night. That was probably a very good move. Showers and storms should be on the increase Friday night. On Saturday, Auburn will be in Fayetteville for an 11:00 a.m. clash with Arkansas. It should be mostly sunny and quite cool with game time temperatures 55 to 58 and a brisk wind at times. Alabama will play Ole Miss in Oxford for a 2:30 kick off. It will be mostly cloudy with 68 at kick off lowering to 62 by the final whistle. Unfortunately, there is still a good chance of showers at some point during the game.
NEXT WEEK: Showers are possible Monday with a weak wave of low pressure forming on the front to our south, but drier air begins to arrive Tuesday; much of North Alabama should be dry Tuesday and Wednesday. But, the coolest air will stay north of Alabama. Then, another strong storm system will bring the threat of more showers and storms by Thursday and Friday of next week. See the Weather Xtreme video for more.
TROPICS: Henri is dissipating in the Atlantic northeast of the Leeward Islands, and the rest of the Atlantic basin remains rather quiet.
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