Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorian
There could be a few isolated showers this afternoon and again overnight, but otherwise a mostly sunny and warm day across Alabama. The tropics continue to be active with two named system and one more expected this week. New England is warily eyeing Hurricane Lee for potential impacts late in the week and weekend.
***NO VIDEO TODAY*** The European has been hinting at a potential landfall in New England for Hurricane Lee by next weekend. We probably will be dealing with another hurricane off the East Coast of the U.S. by late in week two around September 23-24.
After an amazing 24 hours of strengthening that saw Lee intensify 55 mph from 75 to 130 mph and its central pressure estimate to drop from 991 mb to 953 mb, Lee may already be a Category Five hurricane.
The actual forecast from the NHC calls for it to reach Category Five status late tonight.
Tropical Depression number 14 has formed but it is not expected to be a threat to any land areas. Hurricane Lee’s eventual destination is less certain and there could be impacts to Bermuda or the northeastern coast of the U.S. or Atlantic Canada.
Lee is expected to become a powerful hurricane in coming days, and interests along the East Coast from the Outer Banks north should monitor its progress.
Strong storms are into Northwest Alabama, but they are not severe at this time.
It will affect communities from Gorgas and West Jefferson down to Adamsville, Short Creek, Sylvan Springs, Maytown, Pleasant Grove, Mulga, Hueytown, Dolomite, and Rock Creek.
It is too early to tell if Lee will be a threat to the U.S. East Coast, but that potential is there. Folks in the Leewards and Puerto Rico should pay close attention to the latest forecasts.
This system is expected to become Tropical Storm Lee by this evening, and a hurricane on Thursday, and a major hurricane by the weekend. It appears that rapid intensification will be likely later on in the week.
Labor Day activities should be free of rain for the most part, although is appears there will be a few afternoon showers like today and some rain overnight Monday night.
The remainder of the Labor Day weekend will be dry and warm for Alabama. Only a few isolated showers are expected mainly across western and southern sections.
Our long time friend, mentor, and charter Weather Factory member, J.B. Elliott, passed away on May 11, 2015. Click HERE to read James' tribute.
