Some Sun/Some Storms

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THIS MORNING: A pretty respectable mass of rain and storms has been moving through our state during the pre-dawn hours… the heavier storms are moving into Georgia as I write this a little before 6:00. The overall pattern hasn’t changed too much today, so once again we will expect scattered to numerous showers and storms. We note the air will be a bit drier north of I-59, so parts of Northwest Alabama could go without rain for the rest of the day, but elsewhere more showers and storms will be firing up later. Like recent days, the stronger storms will produce lots of lightning, and have potential for a few wet microbursts (local areas of high straight line winds capable of knocking down trees and power lines). The high will be in the upper 80s for most communities.

TOMORROW THROUGH THE WEEKEND: The upper ridge will slowly rebuild, meaning a slow trend toward hotter afternoons and fewer showers and storms. The GFS is now suggesting highs will reach the mid 90s over the weekend as the summer heat returns. For outdoor planning, the sun will be out at times, especially during the morning, but a passing shower or storm is very possible all three of these days. Humidity levels stay high.

NEXT WEEK: The ridge will be strong enough for a fairly typical summer pattern. Hot humid days, highs in the mid 90s, and the risk of “widely scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms”. The most interesting feature is the tropical low the GFS continues to advertise that forms off the Yucatan peninsula, with a general northwest motion toward the lower Texas coast. Deep tropical moisture associated with this broad system could possibly impact the Central Gulf Coast by the end of next week; see the Weather Xtreme video for more details.

BEACH WEATHER: Unsettled weather will continue along the Central Gulf Coast through the weekend, with about 2-4 hours of sunshine daily with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Highs will be mostly in the upper 80s, and the sea water temperature last night at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab was a warm 88 degrees.

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I will be over in Talladega this morning speaking at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind… look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so this afternoon. Enjoy the day!