Wednesday Afternoon Forecast Update/Tropical Update – 6:30 PM

A good Wednesday evening to you! Be sure to scroll down for the latest on a developing gulf storm. This system could bring some big impacts to Alabama with heavy rain and gusty winds.

The short term forecast won’t change that much. An isolates shower or storm is possible this evening and again on Thursday. The chance of rain is low, but temperatures will remain high. Highs will continue to top out in the middle to upper 90s through Friday. Winds will gradually increase as the pressure gradient increases between a high pressure to the north and the developing low to the south. Look for a nice 10 to 20mph breeze through Friday and Saturday.

The medium range forecast all depends on what happens with the developments of Lee. Much of Saturday will remain dry, but afternoon storms will become possible for areas south of Tuscaloosa. Heavy rain will then start to spread inland along the immediate coastal sections of the state. Rain should hold off for the Alabama Football Game on Saturday, but rain could become a good bet on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Some cooler air moves in on Wednesday and Thursday, as highs settle back into the 80s.

Be sure to join us on WVUA-TV at 4, 5, 6 and 10 for the very latest on your forecast. Also, check us out on facebook and twitter by searching weather@wvuatv.com. Send us your weather pictures by the same address. Weather@wvuatv.com

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com

Tropical Trouble in the Gulf of Mexico… Alabama Impacts? Wednesday Update 5 PM

If you have plans to the Alabama Gulf Coast this weekend, we’re going to have some big issues. A developing storm in the Gulf of Mexico will likely become tropical storm Lee by Friday. Many of the tropical models as well as global models develop this into a tropical storm. Most data also move it into the central Gulf Coast States.

With very warm water temperatures and low wind shear, I wouldn’t be surprised if this system quickly develops into a tropical storm or weak hurricane. That all depends on how much time it spends in the gulf and its exact track.

Our thinking right now…. Look for heavy rain to develop along the coastal sections of Alabama on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The rain will gradually spread north and should move into the Tuscaloosa area Saturday night or Sunday. With a strong low to our south and strong high to our north, a tight pressure gradient will give us a howling east wind on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. If the center of this storm moves inland along the Alabama or Mississippi Gulf Coast, much of west Alabama will have some winds gusting over 30 MPH. There is a chance of very heavy rain across parts of Alabama, where flooding could become an issue. The best chance of this will happen south of Demopolis.

Again, this could all change as new data comes in. Stay with us for more updates soon to come.

Be sure to join us on WVUA-TV at 4, 5, 6 and 10 for the very latest on your forecast. Also, check us out on facebook and twitter by searching weather@wvuatv.com. Send us your weather pictures by the same address. Weather@wvuatv.com

WVUA Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott

rscott@wvuatv.com