James Spann: Alabama moisture levels head higher; scattered storms return
RADAR CHECK: We have a few scattered showers and thunderstorms over the southern half of Alabama this afternoon, mainly south of U.S. 80, where moisture is deeper. The northern half of the state is dry, and temperatures are generally between 87 and 90 degrees. Scattered storms over south Alabama will fade a bit after sunset.
REST OF THE WEEK: Tuesday will be partly sunny, warm and humid with scattered showers and thunderstorms, most active between noon and midnight. The chance of any one spot getting wet is 25-35%, and the high will be in the mid to upper 80s. An approaching trough will bring scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to the state Wednesday and Thursday. The sky will be occasionally cloudy both days with highs between 81 and 86. Friday looks like a fairly typical summer day with a mix of sun and clouds and the usual chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, mostly during the afternoon and evening. The high Friday will be in the upper 80s.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: We aren’t expecting much change Saturday and Sunday — pretty routine summer weather both days with the usual mix of sun and scattered storms. The chance of any one spot getting wet both days will be 25-35%, and highs will remain mostly in the upper 80s, a little below average for July in Alabama.
NEXT WEEK: We will go with a persistence forecast — partly sunny, warm, humid days with the continued chance of random, scattered, pop-up afternoon and evening showers and storms each day. Highs will be generally between 86 and 90.
ELSA: Tropical Storm Elsa, with sustained winds of 60 mph, is over Cuba this afternoon and slowly weakening. It will move over the far eastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday, then will move into the Florida west coast north of Tampa late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. From there, it moves up the south Atlantic coast and back into the Atlantic by Thursday night. As Elsa approaches the Florida Keys, the Florida Peninsula and coastal Georgia through Wednesday, heavy rainfall may result in isolated flash, urban and minor river flooding. Mid to late week, heavy rains across coastal South Carolina and North Carolina may result in isolated flash and urban flooding. A few brief, isolated tornadoes or waterspouts are possible along and east of the circulation center track.
While the direct impact of Elsa remains east of Alabama and the central Gulf Coast (Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Destin, Panama City Beach), there will be a high danger of rip currents this week.
The rest of the Atlantic basin is quiet.
ON THIS DATE IN 1937: The temperature at Medicine Lake, Montana, soared to 117 degrees to tie the state record. Glendive, Montana, reached 117 degrees on July 20, 1893.
BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.
WEATHER BRAINS: You can listen to our weekly 90-minute show any time on your favorite podcast app. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including the meteorologists at ABC 33/40.
CONNECT: You can find me on the major social networks:
For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.
