North Alabama Goes Dry Tomorrow

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DRIER AIR NEARING ALABAMA: On the maps this afternoon, a surface cold front is nearing the Alabama/Tennessee border. Ahead of the front, scattered showers and storms are in progress over much of Alabama, but the most widespread and heavy rain is along and south of U.S. 80… or south of a line from Demopolis to Selma to Montgomery to Opelika. The showers are more scattered in nature around here, and they should fade away tonight as drier air begins to arrive.

LOWER HUMIDITY FOR NORTH ALABAMA TOMORROW: Looks like a good, one day break from rain and the higher humidity levels we have dealt with for much of the summer. Models are in good agreement that the surface front makes it all the way down to the U.S. 80 corridor by early tomorrow, so for Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Anniston, and points north we will forecast a good supply of sunshine tomorrow with lower humidity. Tomorrow night will be cooler; the valleys of North Alabama have a chance of reaching the 50s early Thursday morning for a very nice touch of fall.

The risk of showers and storms will continue tomorrow over South Alabama.

THURSDAY: Model disagreement here. The GFS holds the dry air over Alabama, while the NAM brings the moisture back. We will tend to side with the NAM, and bring back the chance of showers and storms Thursday afternoon after a good deal of sunshine to start the day.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: A broad tropical low will bring a soaking to the Gulf Coast Friday, but it sure looks like the bulk of the rain with this feature will be south and east of here. Friday should be wet for places like Gulf Shores, Evergreen, Troy, Dothan, and Ozark, but up this way showers should be more scattered in nature, much like today.

Then, for Saturday and Sunday, the tropical wave moves northeast with the big rains Saturday over the Carolinas; around here it looks like a mix of sun and clouds with just a few scattered showers and thunderstorms. The 12Z GFS suggests a decent part of the weekend will be dry with just an occasional passing shower. Highs should be in the 86 to 89 degree range.

TROPICS: A tropical wave in the Caribbean is headed for the Gulf, but for now it doesn’t look like it will develop into a tropical storm. This is the feature that should wet down the Central Gulf Coast Friday. Another wave has emerged off the coast of Africa, but dry air surrounding that one will keep the chance of development small in the short term.

AT THE BEACH: Rather unsettled weather is the story from Gulf Shores over to Panama City for the rest of the week, with scattered to numerous showers and storms on a daily basis, and only a limited amount of sunshine. The rain could be heavy on Friday as a tropical wave moves onshore, especially over the Florida Panhandle. Then, by Saturday and Sunday, the weather improves with about 6 to 8 hours of sunshine both days and only a few scattered storms. Highs hold in the mid to upper 80s on the immediate coast, and the sea water temperature this afternoon at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is 87 degrees.

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Tags: drier

Category: Alabama's Weather