Central Alabama’s Most Detailed Seven Day Forecast

Friday afternoon, September 20, 2019
Forecaster: Ryan Stinnett

THROUGH THE WEEKEND: Mainly sunny conditions and low humidity highlight the forecast for the rest of today and the weekend as a very dry air mass remains in place across the state. We still have breezy easterly winds at times today and temps this afternoon are in the mid to upper 80s across North/Central Alabama. Not much change in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday either as the days should be generally sunny with highs in the upper 80s to perhaps lower 90s. With the dry air mass in place, the next several nights will continue to be very comfortable as lows settle well down in the 60s during the morning hours.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Clear for the high school games tonight with temperatures falling from near 80 at kickoff, into the low 70s by the second half.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Tomorrow, Alabama will host Southern Mississippi at Bryant-Denny Stadium (11a CT kickoff)… the sky will be sunny with temperatures rising from near 85 at kickoff, to 90 by the final whistle.

Auburn is on the road; they travel to College Station to take on Texas A&M (2:30p CT kickoff)… scattered showers and storms are possible during the game with temperatures generally in the low 90s.

UAB hosts South Alabama at Legion Field in Birmingham (2:30p CT kickoff)… the sky will be sunny with temperatures in the upper 80s at kickoff, falling into the mid 80s by the end of the game.

NEXT WEEK: A weak surface front approaches North Alabama early in the week and it could squeeze out a few showers over the state, but for the most part it will continue to be very dry, with no real signs of beneficial rain through perhaps the end of the month. Highs should hold in the lower 90s much of next week, with perhaps mid 90s for some spots. Fall officially arrives in Alabama at 2:50AM CDT Monday as the Autumnal Equinox occurs, however the first week of fall is still going to be feeling like summer.

IN THE TROPICS: HUMBERTO HAS BECOME AN EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE…NO MORE ADVISORIES WILL BE ISSUED.

HURRICANE JERRY: At 1100 AM AST, the center of Hurricane Jerry was located near latitude 18.8 North, longitude 60.3 West. Jerry is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph. On the forecast track, the center of Jerry will move north of the northern Leeward Islands later today, pass well north of Puerto Rico on Saturday, be well east-northeast of the southeastern Bahamas on Sunday and turn northward on Monday. Data from the Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph with higher gusts. Further weakening is forecast during the next day or so, with some re-strengthening possible early next week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure from the plane data is 990 mb (29.24 inches).

ELSEWHERE IN THE TROPICS: A tropical wave located about 700 miles east of the Windward Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The wave is expected to move quickly westward at about 20 mph during the next few days, and some development is possible while it approaches and moves across the Windward Islands this weekend. Upper-level winds are forecast to become less conducive for development once the wave moves over the eastern Caribbean Sea early next week. Formation chance through 48 hours…low…20 percent. Formation chance through 5 days…low…30 percent.

A broad area of low pressure located over the central Caribbean Sea is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity, mainly to the east and northeast of its center of circulation. This system is expected to move slowly west-northwestward and significant development is unlikely due to strong upper-level winds. Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall is possible over portions of the Greater Antilles during the next few days. Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent. Formation chance through 5 days…low…10 percent.

A tropical wave is forecast to move off the west coast of Africa this weekend. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form early next week while the wave moves westward across the eastern tropical Atlantic. Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent. Formation chance through 5 days…high…70 percent.

Next names up on the list are Karen, Lorenzo, and Melissa.

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 118.2F at Failakah Island, Kuwait. The lowest observation was -104.1F at Concordia, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 107F at Rio Grande Village, TX. The lowest observation was 29F at Bryce Canyon, UT and Pikes Peak Summit, CO.

WEATHER ON THIS DATE IN 1989: Hugo jilted Iris. Hurricane Hugo churned toward the South Atlantic Coast, gradually regaining strength along the way. Tropical Storm Iris got too close to Hugo, and began to weaken.