James Spann: Nate rolls into Alabama over the weekend

Published On: 10.06.17 |

By: James Spann

James Spann: Nate rolls into Alabama over the weekend

James Spann: Dry Friday for Alabama before Nate brings the rain from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

STILL DRY TODAY: One more dry day for Alabama; we expect a good supply of sunshine today with a high in the mid 80s this afternoon. But all eyes in the weather office will be focused on Tropical Storm Nate, now in the western Caribbean with winds of 45 mph.

Here are the important points concerning Nate and our weekend weather:

Nate is forecast by the National Hurricane Center to reach minimal hurricane strength just before landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River late tomorrow night. From there, the circulation center moves through south Mississippi, and through north and central Alabama Sunday and Sunday night.

The Global Forecast System and a number of tropical models suggest Nate will not reach hurricane strength, however, due to dry air, westerly shear and cooler sea surface temperatures near the coast. One way or another, the impact will be pretty much the same for the Gulf Coast region.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Alabama/Florida border, and for the northern and western shores of Lake Pontchartrain.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Mississippi/Alabama border; metropolitan New Orleans; Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas; and Punta Herrero to Rio Lagartos, Mexico.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Okaloosa/Walton County line, and west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.
Baldwin County officials have a voluntary evacuation recommendation for areas south of Alabama Highway 182 (Beach Boulevard) in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and the Fort Morgan peninsula beginning this morning. Also, a voluntary evacuation recommendation has been issued for the Causeway (U.S. 90) in Spanish Fort.
Wind and rain will increase on the Gulf Coast late tonight and through the day tomorrow. A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is possible on the Alabama Gulf Coast and through the western part of the Florida Panhandle, and a few isolated tornadoes are possible as well tomorrow. Rain will be heavy at times, but it won’t rain all day.
Weather conditions will slowly improve on the coast by Sunday afternoon as Nate moves northward.
Most of the rain for the northern half of Alabama will come Saturday night and Sunday; rain amounts should average 1 to 3 inches, with isolated heavier amounts of 4 to 5 inches possible. Major flooding problems are not expected, however, since Nate will be moving along at a pretty good clip.
Pressure gradient winds of 20-40 mph are possible over much of Alabama tomorrow night and Sunday. Probably not high enough for major tree and power line damage, but a few trees could come down.
The main tornado threat Sunday will be south of a line from Mobile to Montgomery to Opelika. For now, the tornado threat over north Alabama looks rather low.

Winds will diminish Sunday night, but lingering showers are likely Monday.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: For the high school games tonight, the sky should be clear with temperatures falling from around 80 degrees at kickoff through the 70s during the game.

Auburn hosts Ole Miss Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium (11 a.m. kickoff). The sky will be partly sunny, with temperatures rising from near 78 degrees at kickoff into the low 80s by the final whistle. Only a small risk of a shower.

Alabama is on the road, taking on the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas, on Saturday (6:15 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be clear, with temperatures falling from near 88 degrees at kickoff to near 80 by the end of the game.

UAB’s homecoming is Saturday; the Blazers take on Louisiana Tech at Legion Field (3 p.m. kickoff). For now we are forecasting a partly sunny sky with 83 degrees at kickoff, falling to near 80 by the fourth quarter. The chance of a shower for now is small.

NEXT WEEK: We expect occasional showers Monday and only widely scattered showers Tuesday. Cooler, drier air arrives Wednesday through Friday with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.