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Another Hot One Today

| August 18, 2019 @ 7:00 am

Saturday was a hot one across North and Central Alabama. Several locations flirted with the century mark and a couple actually hit it: Moisture will be creeping back northward today, reducing high a degree or two over southern sections of the area, but it will still be hot, especially in the I-59 corridor, where highs will range between 97-99F. Everyone else will range between 93-97F. Rain chances will edge back up over the next several days, and temperatures will be trimmed back accordingly. But it will still be hot. Let’s look at the forecast.

ISOLATED SHOWERS TO RETURN THIS AFTERNOON: Now don’t get too excited, and we aren’t talking about much, but a few isolated showers will begin to return to a radar near you this afternoon. Some of them might even grow enough to develop lightning and become thunderstorms. But the chance is still very small, less than 20%. Highs this afternoon will warm into the middle and upper 90s with a few 100s thrown in for good measure. Lows tonight will be in the lower 70s. Dewpoints near 70F will make it feel quite muggy.

A FEW MORE SHOWERS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE WEEK: As moisture levels continue to increase, a few more showers and storms will begin to show up on radars each day this week. By Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, they will become fairly numerous. One can hope. By the weekend, highs will be back to normal levels for this time of year, around 90F. Until then, they will be above.

VOODOO COUNTRY: Fairly typical weather for Labor Day across Alabama. Partly, warm and humid conditions with scattered afternoon and evening showers and storms. Highs will be around 90F, and lows will be around 70F.

A FREE, FUN WEATHER PREPAREDNESS & SAFETY FESTIVAL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: WeatherReady Fest is coming to Huntsville, Alabama on September 7, 2019, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Family-friendly games, fun learning activities, large response vehicles, and enlightening speakers will highlight this big, one-day weather festival on the campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Special guests include The Weather Channel’s Nick Walker, ABC 33/40’s Chief Meteorologist James Spann, and Owlie Skywarn. Each visitor will receive their very own passport booklet. Collect stamps from exhibitor for your chance to win door prizes. Tours of UAH’s SWIRLL and the NWS Huntsville office will be available as well. Get your free timed tickets quickly as they will not last long. More information and a link to the ticket site is available on the festival website at www.weatherreadyfest.com. The tickets are free and are issued for specific hours to maximize the number of people that can visit. I hope to see you there!

TROPICS: The GFS is not predicting any tropical development through Labor Day across the Atlantic Basin.

REMEMBERING CAMILLE: On this date fifty years ago, the Gulf Coast was reeling in the wake of Hurricane Camille. When Camille’s eye smashed into Pass Christian, Mississippi on Sunday night, August 17th around 11 pm, it had winds over 200 mph and a storm tide of 27 feet above normal. As a result, 143 people perished along the coast and 27 were never found.

GULF COAST WEATHER: The warm muggies continue along the beautiful beaches of Alabama and Northwest Florida in the week ahead. Rain and storms will be around each day, but you can expect about six hours of rain each day. Water temperatures along the Alabama coast are running 88F. Seas will be running 1-2 feet. Rip current risk will be moderate through Monday evening.
Click here to see the Beach Forecast Center page.

SIDEWALK: This is one of my favorite weeks of the year, as Birmingham’s world-class movie festival kicks off. Go to sidewalkfest.com for tickets.

WEATHERBRAINS: This week, the panel will entertain Nate Tanner, a meteorologist for Delta Air Lines. Check out the show at www.WeatherBrains.com. You can also subscribe on iTunes. You can watch the show live at live.bigbrainsmedia.com You will be able to see the show on the James Spann 24×7 weather channel on cable or directly over the air on the dot 2 feed.

ON THIS DATE IN 1879: The Atlantic Hotel in Beaufort, North Carolina was one of the finest resorts on the Carolina coast. Originally constructed in 1859, the Hotel was built out over the water. The fine location and verandas facing the water made it very popular. On Sunday, August 17th, the Atlantic Hotel was preparing for the arrival of the North Carolina Press Association. Guests were already arriving at the Hotel for the gala ball planned for the 21st, including the Governor of North Carolnia. As the visitors went to bed that Sunday night, they were unaware that one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the Carolina coast was approaching. Through the night the winds and water levels rose rapidly, with water lapping at the ground floor of the hotel, which was on pilings. As the building started to crumble, the guests were being evacuated. Many guests had to be rescued from the rising waters, including the Governor and his wife. The weather station at Cape Lookout measured top winds of 138 mph before the anemometer blew away. Top winds were estimated at 168 mph. Follow my weather history tweets on Twitter. I am @wxhistorian at Twitter.com.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos

About the Author ()

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

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