James Spann: A few scattered weekend storms in Alabama; drier air by Monday

RADAR CHECK: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are active mainly over East and South Alabama this afternoon … in areas south of I-20. For the rest of the state the sky is partly to mostly sunny with temperatures mostly in the 85–90-degree range. Scattered showers and storms will fade tonight after sunset.

Alabama’s weather won’t change much through the weekend … partly sunny days with a few scattered showers and thunderstorms around mostly between noon and midnight. The chance of any one spot seeing rain daily is 30/40%, and afternoon highs will remain in the 87–92-degree range for most communities.

NEXT WEEK: An unusually dry airmass for August will drop into the Deep South Monday. A secondary front will push through the state Tuesday; global models suggest a few spotty showers are possible as this front moves through. The rest of the week will be dry with lower humidity and cooler nights. Lows will be well down in the 60s for the northern 2/3 of the state by early Wednesday and Thursday morning, and cooler spots over North Alabama will visit the 50s for a nice preview of fall. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: Hurricane Erin, with winds of 90 mph, is about 400 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is moving east/northeast at 23 mph, and will become post-tropical over the colder water of the North Atlantic tonight or early tomorrow.

There are two others areas of interest …

*Showers and thunderstorms continue to show some signs of organization in association with a trough of low pressure (Invest 90L) located about 250 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. Environmental conditions appear conducive for further development of this system, and a tropical storm is very likely to form this weekend while it moves northwestward and then northward over the southwestern Atlantic. Interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of this system as watches or warnings could be required tomorrow. NHC gives it a 90% of development, but this system will remain far to the east of the U.S.

*Showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located about midway between Africa and the Windward Islands remain disorganized. While there is still some chance that a short-lived tropical depression could form during the next day or so, the system is expected to move through a less conducive environment into tomorrow. The wave could reach a slightly more favorable environment late this weekend into early next week as it approaches the Windward Islands. The chance of development is 40%; it will remain a very low latitude system, and if anything develops it will likely move into Central America.

No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf through September 1.

ON THIS DATE IN 1994: Hurricane John, about 345 miles south of Hilo, Hawaii had winds of 175 mph and pressure at 920 millibars or 27.17 inches of mercury, making it one of the strongest hurricanes ever in the Central Pacific. The 31-day existence made John the longest-lasting tropical cyclone recorded in both the Pacific Ocean.

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit the Alabama Weather Network.