Only Isolated Showers Today; Rain More Likely Tomorrow/Friday

MOSTLY DRY TODAY: Much of Alabama will be rain-free today; we expect only a few isolated showers over the southern third of the state this afternoon. Highs will range from the mid to upper 80s over the northern counties, to the low 90s down south.

A disturbance will bring rain to the southern half of Alabama tomorrow, and the southern 2/3 of the state Friday. Most of the rain tomorrow will be along and south of I-20 (Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Anniston), and Friday rain is most likely south of U.S. 278 (Hamilton to Cullman to Gadsden). Rain amounts from I-20 south will be in the 1-2 inch range, but the Tennessee Valley will be short changed with only very light rain amounts.

Temperatures will continue to trend downward; expect highs tomorrow in the 80s, and only in the 70s Friday because of clouds, rain, and a cool low level easterly flow.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A front has potential to bring a few isolated showers to Alabama Saturday, but most of the day will be dry with a mix of sun and clouds along with a high in the 80s. A very dry airmass settles into the Deep South Sunday with a sunny sky; after starting the day in the 50s the high will be in the mid 80s for most places.

NEXT WEEK: For now much of the week looks dry with seasonal temperatures; highs in the 80s, and lows in the 50s and 60s. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: NHC continues to monitor two tropical waves in the central and eastern part of the Atlantic basin; development is not expected with either system due to unfavorable environmental conditions.

Also, a tropical wave moving quickly westward at about 20 mph is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over Hispaniola and portions of the central Caribbean Sea. Some development is possible late this week when the wave slows down over the northwestern Caribbean Sea or early next week over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. NHC gives the system a 30 percent chance of development over the next seven days.

Global models hint a depression or storm could form in the Bay of Campeche in 4-5 days, but then they don’t do much with it as the system tries to lift northward next week… it remains simply something to watch for now.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: For high school games across the state Friday night, some rain is possible (if not likely) over the southern 2/3 of the state. Not expecting much thunder, however, and temperatures will be in the 70s.

Saturday Auburn will host California at Jordan-hare Stadium (2:30p CT kickoff)… the sky will be partly sunny, and a brief shower can’t be ruled out. Temperatures will hover in the low to mid 80s during the game.

Alabama will host South Florida Saturday evening in Tuscaloosa (6:00p CT kickoff)… the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures falling from the low 80s at kickoff, into the upper 60s by the final whistle.

UAB will be on the road; they take on Louisiana-Monroe Saturday evening (6:00p CT kickoff). The sky will be clear with about 83 degree at kickoff; temperatures drop to near 70 degrees by the fourth quarter.

ON THIS DATE IN 1941: A violent tornado ripped through Northeast and North Minneapolis shortly afternoon on this day. The hardest-hit location was the Soo Line Railroad’s Shoreham Yards where four people died, and at least 50 were injured. The death toll at Soo Line could have been higher, but the tornado struck five minutes after the lunch bell went off, meaning 100 men left the shops.

ON THIS DATE IN 2011: The center of Tropical Storm Lee moved ashore around sunrise. However, it would be a while before Lee would weaken to a depression as it remained nearly stationary while the southern half of the circulation was over water where it could continue to derive additional energy from the warm ocean. Lee brought torrential rains to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Look for the next video briefing here by 3:00 this afternoon… enjoy the day!

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