A Mostly Dry Holiday Weekend

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SUNNY DAYS: Sure seems odd not to mention the risk of “scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms” this time of the year, but we will roll with a dry forecast for the northern half of Alabama through Monday, with mostly sunny days and fair nights. Understand the chance of rain is not zero, and a blip or two might show up on radar at some point along the way, but most of the showers and storms will remain over the southern quarter of Alabama this holiday weekend. Highs around 90, lows around 70. A great weekend for fireworks shows, lake outings, or anything else you want to do outdoors.

NEXT WEEK: Moisture levels, of course, will slowly return, and we will bring back the chance of widely scattered afternoon showers by Tuesday and Wednesday. Deeper moisture shows up late in the week with scattered storms by Thursday and Friday. Some runs of the GFS have suggested a broad tropical type low will form near Mobile Bay next week, perhaps enhancing the chance of rain toward the end of the week, but the 00Z operational run backed off on the idea.

TROPICS: Alex is fizzing out over Mexico, and the rest of the Atlantic basin is quiet. Tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.

AT THE BEACH: Unsettled weather continues along the coast through the weekend. Only about 2 to 4 hours of sunshine each day with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms for the stretch from Panama City west to Gulf Shores. Highs will be in the upper 80s, and sea water temperatures remain in the mid to upper 80s. The SST at Pensacola Beach last night was 85 degrees.

RAIN UPDATE: Birmingham’s rain total for the year so far is 31.47″, which gives us a surplus of 2.28″. However, Tuscaloosa’s total for 2010 is only 27.99″, which gives them a deficit of 3.19″. Anniston is even drier with a deficiency of 5.38″ since January 1.

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I will have the next Weather Xtreme video here by 3:30 or so… enjoy the day!

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