Bill Murray: More heat and a few storms for Alabama but relief is coming next week

ALABAMA YESTERDAY

A few storms packed a punch across parts of the state, especially in north and central Alabama. Strong winds and heavy rain led to sporadic damage and isolated flooding. A flash flood warning was issued during the mid-afternoon for eastern Franklin County, where up to and over 3.5 inches of rain fell in Russellville. Trees were reported down in areas of Fayette and Walker counties, with a shed blown over in the Carbon Hill area.

Heat held on across the state, with highs of 94° in Huntsville, 97° in Birmingham, 95° in Tuscaloosa, and 93° in Mobile.  A record was set at the Shelby County Airport. 97° was the high breaking the old record of 95° in 2018.

ALABAMA FORECAST

A familiar late-summer pattern holds today with heat and scattered afternoon storms, but changes are on the horizon. A stronger system midweek will finally bring a front through Alabama, breaking the persistent stretch of 90s.

HOT WITH SCATTERED STORMS THIS AFTERNOON
Daytime heating and lingering weak boundaries will help trigger scattered thunderstorms across Alabama later today. Any storm that develops may produce gusty winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rainfall. Otherwise, skies will be partly sunny with highs reaching the upper 80s in the north to the middle 90s in central and southern counties.

CALM AND MUGGY TONIGHT
Storms will fade after sunset, leaving mainly clear skies and light winds. Humidity will stay high, and fog may redevelop overnight in valleys and near rivers. Lows will dip into the mid and upper 60s across the north and east, with lower 70s common farther south.

SUNNY, HOT, AND A FEW STORMS SUNDAY
Sunday will bring more sunshine with another round of isolated to scattered afternoon storms, though most places will remain dry. Temperatures will again be on the hot side, topping out in the lower 90s in the Tennessee Valley and the middle 90s across central and southern Alabama.

WETTER PATTERN EARLY NEXT WEEK
By Monday and Tuesday, a stronger trough approaching from the west will lead to more numerous showers and storms. Downpours could be locally heavy, and storms may linger into the evening hours. Highs will generally be in the 80s north and central, with low 90s still possible in the south where rain coverage is lower.

FRONT BREAKS THE HEAT MID TO LATE WEEK
A cold front is expected to move across Alabama late Wednesday into Thursday, bringing the best chance of widespread rain during the week. Some storms could be on the strong side, and heavy rainfall may cause localized flooding in spots. Behind the front, the persistent heat will ease, with highs settling back into the 70s and 80s across the state by late week.

FOOTBALL WEATHER

Tailgate forecast: Hot afternoons will set the stage for both Alabama home games today. Sunshine will dominate with just a slim chance of a stray shower, but overall conditions favor warm and mostly dry tailgating. Expect upper 80s to near 90 before kickoff, easing into the 70s by evening.

Auburn travels to Norman to take on Oklahoma today (2:30 p.m. kickoff) … partly sunny with a passing shower or thunderstorm possible. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 80s.

UAB heads to Knoxville to face Tennessee (11:45 a.m. kickoff) … partly sunny skies with mid-80s at kickoff and a small chance of a passing shower.

Jacksonville State hosts Murray State this evening (6 p.m. kickoff) … a very small risk of a shower early, otherwise mostly fair. Temperatures fall from the mid 80s at kickoff into the 70s during the second half. 

South Alabama hosts Coastal Carolina this evening (6 p.m. kickoff) … skies stay mostly clear with temps.

NATIONAL 

STORMS DRAPE MIDWEST TO SOUTHERN PLAINS
A slow-moving trough keeps scattered to widespread thunderstorms in the forecast this weekend from the Midwest into the central and southern Plains. Some storms may be strong late today in parts of the Texas Panhandle and northern Oklahoma, where SPC has a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5). Locally heavy rain could also spark flash flooding from Wisconsin and northern Illinois into the Ozarks and Oklahoma, per WPC’s Marginal Risk outlook.

LOCAL FLOOD RISK FOR WEST VIRGINIA
Slow-moving storms are expected to develop over eastern West Virginia this afternoon. A weak disturbance interacting with pooling moisture along a stalled front could produce 2–3 inches of rain, leading to an isolated flash flood threat.

HEAT STAYS LOCKED IN THE EAST AND SOUTH
The final weekend of summer remains hot across the eastern and southern U.S. Highs in the upper 80s to mid-90s are expected across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, Southeast, and southern Plains. Cooler air lingers north of frontal boundaries, with 60s and 70s across the Upper Great Lakes and Interior Northeast.

SOUTHWEST STORMS RETURN SUNDAY
Moisture will increase across the Southwest by Sunday, bringing scattered thunderstorms and a risk for isolated flash flooding, especially in Arizona. At the same time, a Pacific system will swing into the Northwest, dropping highs into the 60s and 70s after a warmer Saturday.

NATIONAL HIGH AND LOW TEMPERATURE
The nation’s high reached 104° at 4 miles south of Tolleson, Arizona, while the low bottomed out at 23° at two Colorado sites — 4 miles northwest of Grand Lake and 16 miles west of Redfeather Lakes.

TROPICS 

GABRIELLE TO PASS EAST OF BERMUDA
Tropical Storm Gabrielle, packing sustained winds of 50 mph, is tracking northwest across the central Atlantic. Forecast guidance brings Gabrielle to hurricane strength by Sunday, with the storm expected to peak near 105 mph early next week before beginning to weaken. The center should curve north and pass well east of Bermuda late Sunday into Monday. Even with the track offshore, swells are already reaching the island and will build through the weekend, creating life-threatening surf and rip currents. Winds and rain impacts on Bermuda remain possible, depending on the storm’s exact path.

ANOTHER WAVE OVER THE EASTERN ATLANTIC
Farther east, a tropical wave south of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing disorganized showers and storms. Gradual development is possible as it moves west-northwestward across the Atlantic next week, though chances remain low at 20% over seven days.

BEACH: SUNNY SKIES AND GULF BREEZES
It’s a beautiful day along the Alabama and Florida Panhandle beaches with plenty of sunshine and highs in the upper 80s to near 90. Surf is running around 1 foot, and water temperatures are warm in the mid-80s. The rip current risk is low for Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Pensacola, but a moderate risk continues for South Walton. A perfect setup for a beach walk, swim or just soaking up the late-summer sun.

WEATHER HISTORY

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made a catastrophic landfall in Puerto Rico as a high-end Category 4 storm with winds near 155 miles per hour. Storm surge and extreme winds destroyed thousands of structures, stripped forests, and knocked out power and communications across the island. Nearly all residents were left without electricity or clean water for weeks to months. The storm ultimately claimed at least 2,975 lives, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history and the third costliest hurricane on record.

For more weather news and information from Bill Murray and the rest of the James Spann team, visit the Alabama Weather Network.