ANOTHER PLEASANT MORNING: Temperatures are generally in the 58-65 degree range across Alabama this morning… very pleasant for late August. We expect an increase in clouds today ahead of a disturbance that will bring the risk of some scattered light rain to the state this afternoon and tonight. Moisture will be very limited, and some spots won’t see any rain at all. The high today will be in the low 80s in most places.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A surface front will drift into South Alabama and become nearly stationary. A few showers are possible both days mainly south of the front, over the southern third of the state (especially south of U.S. 84). For now the risk of rain over North and Central Alabama looks very low; highs will be in the mid 80s.
Forecast confidence isn’t especially high concerning weather next week, but for now it looks like just a few isolated showers Monday and Tuesday, followed by a better chance of rain at mid-week on Wednesday as another front approaches from the north. Models suggest another surge of drier air could reach the Deep South by the end of the week… See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.
TROPICS: Fernand has dissipated in the North Atlantic. The rest of the Atlantic basin remains very quiet; NHC has only one area of interest this morning. A tropical wave is forecast to emerge off the west coast of Africa by this weekend to the south of the Cabo Verde Islands. Thereafter, environmental conditions appear favorable for some slow development of this system as it moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph, moving across the eastern into central Tropical Atlantic through the middle of next week. The chance of development is only 20 percent.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB hosts Alabama State at Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham tonight (7:30p CT kickoff). Just a small chance of some light rain otherwise mostly cloudy… temperatures will fall from near 78 at kickoff into the low 70s by the fourth quarter.
Auburn will take on Baylor in Waco, Texas tomorrow night (7:00p CT kickoff)… the sky will be mostly cloudy and there is the chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm during the game. Temperatures will fall from near 89 degrees at kickoff into the low 80s by the final whistle.
Saturday Alabama will be in Tallahassee to take on Florida State (2:30p CT kickoff)… the sky will be cloudy at times, and a few passing showers or storms are likely during the game. Temperatures will be in the mid 80s.
ON THIS DATE IN 1990: Between 3:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. a devastating F5 tornado ripped a 16.4 mile-long path through portions of Kendall and Will counties in northern Illinois. A total of 29 people were killed, and 350 more were injured.
ON THIS DATE IN 2005: Hurricane Katrina attained Category 5 status in the Gulf and reached its peak strength at midday, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and a minimum central pressure of 902 mb. It could make landfall the next day as a category three hurricane on the Mississippi coast near Waveland.
For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit the Alabama Weather Network.
