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Hot and Dry Weather to Continue; Drought Worsening; Humberto Only a Threat to Bermuda

| September 15, 2019 @ 6:00 am

The heat and the worsening drought are the main stories in the Central Alabama Weather Department. Little relief is in sight, especially in the rainfall department. Let’s take a look at the situation, Humberto, and our forecast.

SATURDAY HIGHS: Morning clouds helped hold down the heat just a tad in spots across Central Alabama on Saturday. Highs included 91F at Anniston and Gadsden, 92F at Birmingham, 94F at Calera and 96F at Tuscaloosa. It was 97F at Marion, but only 89F at Bessemer. The state’s hot spot was 101F at Andalusia/Opp.

DROUGHT: 8% of the state is now in full-on drought conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. 31% of our state is abnormally dry. Most of the dryness is east of I-65, and Shelby County is ground zero for the Central Alabama drought. The Wiregrass Region of Southeast Alabama is getting pretty bad as well.

HUMBERTO: Tropical Storm Humberto is nearing hurricane strength this morning, located about 180 miles east of Merritt Island, Florida. The storm spent Saturday evening moving away from the Bahamas, which are still reeling from their encounter with Hurricane Dorian. The storm is beginning to make a hard right turn that will carry it away from the United States where the only impacts will be rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast. Bermuda may be hard hit by what should be a category two hurricane on Wednesday, however.

ELSEWHERE IN THE TROPICS: The upper low over the Gulf of Mexico is causing lots of disturbed weather, but it is not disturbing in terms of development prospects. it will move inland on the Texas coast before it has a chance to do so. There is a disturbance in the Central Atlantic that does have a wonderful 60% chance of growing into a tropical cyclone in the next five days, however.

OUR FORECAST: The chance of rain is virtually nonexistent for Central Alabama through the next 7 days. It will be dry and hot through Wednesday, with highs in the middle and upper 90s.; Some spots will approach 100F. A dry cold front will bring drier air and slightly cooler temperatures for the end of the week, but it will still be hot and dry.

NEXT RAIN CHANCES: The next rain chances look like they might come early in the following week, around Tuesday the 24th as a front sneaks into the area. DOn’t get your hopes up as far as rainfall goes, however. Amounts will be generally light.

IN FACT: Don’t get your hopes up through the end of October, if the Euro is to be believed. It is calling for less than a third of an inch of rain through the end of October for much of Central Alabama. Here are 45-day projected rainfall totals off the European model.

VOODOO: The GFS does try to carry a large mass of tropical moisture into Alabama around the final weekend of the month, perhaps as a tropical depression. One can hope.

BEACHES: If you’re lucky enough to escape to the beautiful beaches of Alabama and Northwest Florida this week, you’re in luck. July temps with no rain through next weekend. The risk for rip currents is high today, but will gradually diminish starting tonight. Seas are running 1-2 feet with 1-foot waves expected starting Monday. Highs will be in the 90s, lows near 70F. Water temperatures still running 87F.

WEATHERBRAINS: The weekly netcast that’s all about the weather will be talking about the weather for the Apollo missions. I am sure there will be some other interesting discussions as well.

ON THIS DATE IN 2004: States of emergency were declared in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as powerful category four hurricane Ivan steamed toward the northern Gulf Coast. Ivan was the third strong hurricane to affect the United States in a thirty-three day period since Hurricane Charley.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS

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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