As of 12:33 pm, we are rain-free across Central Alabama on this fine but hot Sunday. Temperatures are currently in the upper 70s to the upper 80s across the area, and will continue to warm into the upper 80s to the lower 90s.
It’s already a warm one out there at the midday hour, with plenty of sunshine and only a few fair-weather clouds dotting the sky across Central Alabama.
Today will be hot and mainly dry, but rain chances will increase on Sunday. Tropical Storm Arlene is expected to weaken this weekend.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Some modest intensification is forecast, and the depression could become a tropical storm tonight or tomorrow.
A 1002 mb surface low is located near Orange Beach and Perdido along the Gulf Coast this morning. The system will move inland over the next few hours and gradually weaken.
Rain moves in later today with some thunder possible. We’ll dry out by Sunday afternoon and stay dry until late on Tuesday, before we could see a risk of strong storms.
We’ll stay cool and dry through the weekend and for the start of the holiday week. For now, the daylight hours on Thanksgiving Day looks to be dry, but “Black Friday” shopping will require an umbrella.
The good news is that skies are continuing to clear across the area from northwest to southeast as we have reached the afternoon hours, but much of the area south of the I-59 corridor remains mostly cloudy. North of that, skies are mostly sunny.
It continues to be cold and mostly cloudy across Central Alabama at this mid-afternoon update. For now, radar looks to be clear of any showers, but a sprinkle or two may be occurring somewhere north of I-20 and east of I-65.
Enjoy the sunshine on Sunday, because it will be the last time we’ll get to see a good amount of it through the forecast period. Get ready for the big cool down everyone has been talking about.
As of 12:30 pm, the main bulk of rain associated with Tropical Storm Nicole continues to stay off to our east and southeast, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few light raindrops or drizzle is falling south of I-20 and east of I-65.
Tropical storm conditions will continue along the east coast of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina within the warning areas today.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected until Nicole makes landfall along the Florida east coast.
5 pm CST observations from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Nicole has strengthened in to a hurricane. The maximum winds are estimated to be 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts.
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.
