Mild With Rain Ahead... Thursday Afternoon Forecast Discussion - 6pm Update

Good Thursday afternoon to you! Temperatures got rather hot again this afternoon, with many spots reaching the middle to upper 80s across west and central Alabama. Once the sun sets, look for temperatures to gradually return into the 70s. Temperatures will cool much slower tonight due to high dewpoints across our area. Moist air heats and cools less efficiently than dry air. The nice cool nights we dealt with earlier this week and last weekend are long gone for now.

Rain is on the way as a stationary front gradually drifts southward. The front will serve as a lifting mechanism to bring the risk of isolated showers or storms on Friday and scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms over the weekend. I think many local high school football games will go through fine Friday night, but a stadium or two may have a quick shower as the front gets closer to our area. Any Friday evening showers or storms should be short-lived.

A surface low will get kicked off in the northern Gulf of Mexico or coastal areas over the weekend and early next week. Model data is in better agreement with this look for a wet weekend and start to next week. If you have an event planned outdoors on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, you’re going to need the rain gear. While I don’t think it will rain non-stop, there’s a good chance of rain at times.

Here’s the latest forecast rain totals from the HPC. Forecast amounts have increased across our area, with expected rain totals around 1 to 2 inches along I-20/59. Totals could reach 2 to 3 inches along and south of HWY 80. These forecast rain amounts will include what falls on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

While it will not rain all weekend, keep the rain gear handy incase a passing shower or storm moves over your area. Rain totals should be much lower to the north of Tuscaloosa.

Football Saturday is looking unsettled, so if you’re heading to the Alabama/Ole Miss game, you’ll need the poncho. Showers are possible at the 8:15pm kickoff in Tuscaloosa, but I don’t think the game is a total washout. Showers should remain scattered and come and go through the game. There could be a rumble of thunder or two as well. Temperatures will remain in the lower 70s for game-time, under a mostly cloudy sky.

As the surface low tracks east of Alabama, dry air will take over. Look for improving conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s.

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Richard Scott

WVUA Chief Meteorologist

rscott@wvuatv.com

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