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Midday Nowcast: Severe Clear and Category 5 Hurricane Iota

| November 16, 2020 @ 10:49 am

After the cold start to the day we are seeing temperatures in the 50s at midday and these should top out in the low and mid 60s across North/Central Alabama this afternoon. There is not a cloud in the Alabama sky this afternoon as the new air mass is very dry and we are seeing sunshine in full supply.

For the rest of the week, sunny seasonal days, and clear, cold nights highlight our forecast for the week. We are dry all week as well, as high pressure will remain firmly in control of our weather all week. We will get a reinforcing shot of colder, drier air tomorrow night, and that should have many places near or below freezing by Wednesday morning as lows should be in the 25-35 degree range across much of North and Central Alabama. Wednesday through Friday will feature highs in the 60s.

CAT 5 HURRICANE IOTA: Hurricane Iota rapidly intensified into a category 5 hurricane this morning with winds currently of 160 mph.

Iota is moving toward the west near 9 mph, and this general motion is forecast through landfall. After landfall, a westward to west-southwestward motion is expected. On the forecast track, the core of Iota will make landfall within the hurricane warning area in northeastern Nicaragua tonight, and will dissipate over central America by Wednesday.

Iota is forecast to continue to be a catastrophic category 5 hurricane when it approaches Central America tonight, and rapid weakening is expected after landfall. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 917 mb (27.08 inches) based on Air Force reconnaissance data.

ELSEWHERE IN THE TROPICS: A new area of low pressure could form in a few days over the central or southwestern Caribbean Sea. Thereafter, some gradual development could occur late this week while the system moves slowly westward across the southwestern Caribbean Sea. Formation chance through 5 days…low…30 percent. If this system develops, which it may, it would be Kappa.

BEACH FORECAST CENTER: Get the latest weather and rip current forecasts for the beaches from Fort Morgan to Panama City on our Beach Forecast Center page. There, you can select the forecast of the region that you are interested in visiting.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 110.1F at Mandora, Australia. The lowest observation was -56.9F at Dome A, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 92F at Pala, CA. The lowest observation was 3F at Lakeview, MT.

WEATHER ON THIS DATE IN 1933: A powerful low pressure system in the north central U.S. produced high winds across the Great Lakes Region, with wind gusts to 60 mph reported at Chicago IL. Heavy snow blanketed much of Minnesota, with eleven inches reported at International Falls.

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Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS

About the Author ()

Macon, Georgia Television Chief Meteorologist, Birmingham native, and long time Contributor on AlabamaWX. Stormchaser. I did not choose Weather, it chose Me. College Football Fanatic. @Ryan_Stinnet

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