Mainly Dry and Hot Through the Weekend
RIDGE IN PLACE: Little day to day change in our weather through the weekend. Each day will feature plenty of sunshine as well as hot and humid conditions, but also each day we will see a few widely isolated showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. Rain chances are rather low, but not zero, and the chance of any one spot seeing a shower or storm each day is about one in five. Our flow will continue out of the east and that slightly drier air is the reason we will limit our rain chances. The slightly drier will allow for hot afternoons and we should see lower to mid 90s for afternoon highs through the weekend.
GASTON: Our seventh named storm of the season became a hurricane Wednesday night, but has since weakened to a potent tropical storm. The latest update had the center of Tropical Storm Gaston located near latitude 23.9 North, longitude 47.6 West. Gaston is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph, and this general heading with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Gaston could re-intensify to a hurricane by tonight or on Saturday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb (29.44 inches).
INVEST 99L: The most hyped and over publicized tropical wave in history as it seems like, is not looking healthy today. Looking at satellite data this afternoon, this wave has a completely exposed circulation, well displaced from any thunderstorm activity. Invest 99L has a lot of work to do the next few days. The latest update from the NHC this afternoon has a broad area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave is located between the southeastern Bahamas and the northeastern coast of Cuba. The low is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms mainly to its south and east, and upper-level winds are not expected to be particularly conducive for development during the next day or so while this system moves more slowly toward the west-northwest at about 10 mph. However, environmental conditions could become a little more conducive for development over the weekend or early next week while the system moves through the Straits of Florida and into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.. Still a lot of uncertainty with the future of this potential system and there is still plenty of time to watch it. The NHC did decrease the potential of development the next five days from 80% Thursday, to 60% today.
FOR NEXT WEEK: At this time we are going to stick with a persistence forecast as the upper-level ridge will remain in place. For the most part, standard late August weather with highs in the 90s and the daily threat of passing storms, but remember the weather next week will depend on the potential tropical weather situation.
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Have a Phenomenal Friday and a Wonderful Weekend!
Ryan
