Dry Weather Continues, Future Forecaster Thomas Leatherwood
FINE ALABAMA FRIDAY: Today will be a near repeat of Thursday as unseasonably warm weather will continue with mid to upper 80s and a few 90s expected. A few more clouds are possible, especially for eastern portions of the state. It will remain dry.
CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE MATTHEW: The streak had to end folks, and after over ten years with no impact from a major hurricane on the U.S. mainland, it looks like that streaks ends today. A very serious threat to life and property as Matthew impacts Florida. Straight from the NHC…..POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS IMPACTS FOR FLORIDA…
At 800 AM EDT, the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 28.9 North, longitude 80.3 West. Matthew is moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue today. A turn toward the north is expected tonight or Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will be moving near or over the east coast of the Florida peninsula through tonight, and near or over the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph with higher gusts. Matthew is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Although weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, Matthew is expected to be a category 3 hurricane as it moves near the coast of Florida today.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles. Cape Canaveral recently reported and wind gust to 97 mph, and Daytona Beach reported a wind gust of 67 mph. The latest minimum central pressure reported by the reconnaissance aircraft was 944 mb (27.86 inches).
The only good news is that Matthew will be no threat to the Gulf of Mexico or to the weather in Alabama.
HURRICANE NICOLE: At 500 AM AST, the center of Hurricane Nicole was located near latitude 27.3 North, longitude 65.2 West. Nicole is drifting southward, and a slightly faster southward motion is expected tonight and on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 100 mph with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours. The estimated minimum central pressure is 970 mb (28.65 inches).
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Matthew indirectly affects Alabama as the counter-clockwise flow around the system will keep our winds out of the north/northeast and breezy at times due to the pressure gradient forecast. Flow off the continent means we stay dry, and temperatures will be above average, but due to the dry air in place, humidity will not be a factor. Highs this weekend will be in the upper 80s and lower 90s, while lows in the 50s and 60 are expected.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: Another delightful night for high school football games tonight… clear with temperatures falling through the 60s.
Auburn will play at Mississippi State Saturday (11:00a CT kickoff)… the sky will be sunny with temperatures rising from 77 at kickoff, to near 83 degrees by the fourth quarter.
Alabama is also on the road; they play Arkansas at Fayetteville Saturday evening (6:00p CT kickoff)… a perfect evening for football with temperatures falling from 67 at kickoff into the 50s by the fourth quarter. The sky will be clear.
FOR NEXT WEEK: A persistence forecast is best. Expect sunny pleasant days, clear cool nights. Temperatures should be in the 80s for highs, while lows will be in the 50s.
Have a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend!!!
Ryan
