WET AT TIMES THROUGH THE WEEKEND: We’ll have more waves of showers and storms move through the state today, mostly from the moisture fetch of Laura. The good news is that moisture levels will drop throughout the day as dry air is advected into Alabama; therefore, rainfall amounts will not be as high. However, showers and storms will be likely, especially by the afternoon and early evening. Highs will be in the upper 80s to the lower 90s.

The effects of Laura will be long gone on Sunday, and we could possibly see some subsidence form over much of the area. While models have shown showers and storms becoming likely, we’ll reduce that a little bit and say there will be a decent chance of scattered, mainly afternoon showers and storms. A couple of storms may become strong to marginally severe, with the possibility of isolated damaging wind gusts. Highs will be in the upper 80s to the lower 90s.

THE WORK WEEK: Moisture returns Monday as a trough digs in to our west, allowing moisture-rich air to flow in from the southwest. Showers and thunderstorms will be likely mainly in the afternoon and early evening. Highs will be in the mid-80s to the lower 90s.

Tuesday will be much the same story, with showers and storms likely mainly during the afternoon and early evening, but coverage of those should be a little less. Highs will be in the mid-80s to the lower 90s.

Subsidence sets back in on Wednesday and Thursday as high pressure builds over the Southeast, just to our east-northeast. There will be plenty of sunshine on both days, but we may have an isolated shower or storm during the afternoon hours. Highs on both days will be in the upper 80s to the lower 90s.

We’ll have a slight rise in the chance of scattered afternoon showers and storms on Friday, but most locations will stay dry. Highs will be in the mid-80s to the lower 90s.

TROPICS: At 12:30 a.m., a tropical wave about 600 miles east of the Windward Islands was producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some gradual development of this system is possible during the next several days while it moves westward at about 15 mph toward the Lesser Antilles. Regardless of development, this system will likely produce gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall across portions of the Windward and Leeward Islands on Sunday.
The formation chance through the next five days is low at 30%.

Another tropical wave is over the eastern Atlantic Ocean just southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. This system is expected to move very slowly for the next several days, and some development is possible early next week over the eastern or central tropical Atlantic. The formation chance through the next five days is 40%.

The rest of the Atlantic basin is quiet.

ON THIS DATE IN 2005: Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish in southeastern Louisiana with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph, a strong Category 3 and the third-most-intense landfalling hurricane in U.S. history. The center of the hurricane passed just east of New Orleans, where winds gusted over 100 mph. Widespread devastation and unprecedented flooding occurred, submerging at least 80% of the city as levees failed. Farther east, powerful winds and a devastating storm surge of 20-30 feet raked the Mississippi coastline, including Gulfport and Biloxi, where Gulf of Mexico floodwaters spread several miles inland. Rainfall amounts of 8-10 inches were common along and to the east of the storm’s path. Katrina weakened to a tropical storm as it tracked northward through Mississippi and gradually lost its identity as it moved into the Tennessee Valley on Aug. 30.

BEACH FORECAST CENTER: Get the latest weather and rip current forecasts for the beaches from Dauphin Island to Panama City Beach, Florida, on our Beach Forecast Center page. There, you can select the forecast of the region you are interested in.

For more weather news and information from James Spann, Scott Martin and other members of the James Spann team, visit AlabamaWx.