THIS MORNING: Most of Alabama is dry this morning with a mostly cloudy sky. The weather over the next 48 hours will be directly related to Hurricane Francine, which will make landfall this afternoon or this evening on the coast of Louisiana southwest of Baton Rouge/west of New Orleans.
THIS AFTERNOON: The sky is mostly sunny over the northern half of Alabama this afternoon with temperatures in the 86-90 degree range. Clouds cover much of South Alabama, and some rain is falling over Mobile and Baldwin counties. Rain will be confined to far South Alabama tonight
Latest update from the NHC, the center of Tropical Storm Francine was located near latitude 24.9 North, longitude 95.6 West. Francine is moving toward the north-northeast near 8 mph. A turn to the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later today or tonight.
ONE MORE MOSTLY DRY DAY: Most of Alabama will stay dry today with a partly sunny sky. Cloud coverage will be higher over the southern third of the state, and showers remain possible near the coast. Highs today will be in the 85-90 degree range for most communities.
RADAR CHECK: The northern half of Alabama is enjoying a mostly sunny afternoon with temperatures in the 86-90 degree range; clouds cover parts of South Alabama, and a few showers are near the Gulf Coast. Most of the state will be dry tonight with a low in the 60s and low 70s.
We now have Tropical Storm Francine in the southwestern Gulf, and it will bring some impacts to Alabama later this week. Francine is moving toward the north-northwest near 5 mph and a slow north-northwestward motion is expected for the remainder of the day, followed by a faster motion to the northeast beginning on Tuesday.
MOSTLY DRY THROUGH TOMORROW: While a few showers are near the Alabama Gulf Coast early this morning, the rest of the state is dry as the day begins. Temperatures are in the 50s north and west of Birmingham, but we warm quickly today with highs in the 87-92 degree range this afternoon. Any showers will remain near the Gulf Coast, and even there rain amounts will be light and spotty.
RADAR CHECK: Large areas of light rain continue to move across the southern 2/3 of Alabama this afternoon. Rain amounts have been light so far, and they should remain light tonight as a layer of dry air in the higher levels of the atmosphere is limiting rain rates
A low pressure is tracking east along the Northern Gulf Coast and will keep us cloudy today with periods of rain today and tonight.
RADAR CHECK: Rain is relatively widespread this morning across Alabama south of I-20, and west of I-65. Rain will continue to expand this morning, but the most widespread coverage and heavier totals will be over the southern half of the state thanks to a weak low moving through the northern Gulf of Mexico.
RADAR CHECK: Areas of light rain continue over the southern half of Alabama this afternoon near a stalled surface front/trough near the Gulf Coast. Most of the state has a cloudy sky, but the sun is out over the Tennessee Valley with temperatures in the 80s.
Clouds and rain are increasing over the today and through the day tomorrow as a low pressure will track east along the Northern Gulf Coast.
RADAR CHECK: We have large areas of mostly light rain across parts of Alabama early this morning with a mostly cloudy sky. We expect periods of rain through tomorrow night as a weak surface low moves along the Gulf Coast. The most widespread and beneficial rain will be over the southern half of the state, where amounts of one to two inches are likely.
RADAR CHECK: We have scattered showers over the southern third of Alabama this afternoon; the northern counties are dry with a good supply of sunshine. Temperatures are mostly in the 80s; Montgomery is one of the few spots reaching the 90 degree mark.
Our long time friend, mentor, and charter Weather Factory member, J.B. Elliott, passed away on May 11, 2015. Click HERE to read James' tribute.
