Humid Weekend, but Lower Humidity Next Week
Friday morning, August 19, 2016
Forecaster: Ryan Stinnett
BETTER RAIN CHANCES: Today through the weekend, the very moist, unstable air mass will remain in place over Alabama. The sky will be occasionally cloudy, and we will forecast scattered to numerous showers and storms each day. Best chance of rain will come during the afternoon and evening hours, but we can’t rule out some late night or morning rain in this setup. Heat levels come down with highs generally in the lower 90s. It won’t rain all the time, but just know that rain and storms are likely to impact many locations at times through the weekend.
TROPICS AWAKENING: As they should as we are entering the heart of hurricane season in the Atlantic basin. Two features we are watching in the Atlantic, first is Fiona. At 500 AM AST, the center of Tropical Storm Fiona was located near latitude 17.6 North, longitude 42.7 West. Fiona is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph, and this general motion with some increase in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast to begin this weekend. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches). Fiona is not expected to be any threat to land and will only impact the fish out in the Central Atlantic Ocean. The second is a tropical wave located about 350 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. It is producing an elongated area of cloudiness and disorganized shower activity. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form early next week while the system moves westward at about 15 mph across the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
A TREAT NEXT WEEK, LOWER HUMIDITY: I love the model output I am seeing for next week. A front pushes into the state Monday and will sweep the widespread showers and storms out of the area. After the front pushes south, drier, continental air drops into Alabama late Monday, and it sure looks like much of next week will be dry with lower humidity and cooler nights. Definitely a hint of fall will be in the air with the drier conditions. Afternoons will be very warm with lower 90s across viewing area, but with the lower humidity, it won’t be so uncomfortable. Nights and mornings are going to be where you feel that new air mass as soothing 60s look to be widespread across the state, with perhaps some 50s across the northern portions of the state…HOORAY!!!
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Have a Fantastic Friday and a Wonderful Weekend!!!
Ryan
