James Spann: Spotty showers today; mostly dry Alabama weekend ahead
RADAR CHECK: Most of the showers across Alabama early this morning are over the southeast counties of the state; this is where the best chance of rain will be through the day. However, a few isolated showers could form elsewhere this afternoon and early tonight. Expect a high today in the 80–85-degree range.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Most of the weekend will be dry, although a few small, isolated showers are possible tomorrow afternoon over the eastern counties. Highs will be in the 80s, lows mostly in the 60s. A few of the cooler spots over North Alabama could see upper 50s.
The weather will stay calm and mostly dry next week, although there could be a day or two with isolated showers. Highs will stay in the 80s.
TROPICS: Gabrielle, near the Azores in the North Atlantic, is now a post-tropical system. Humberto is about 460 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, and has reached hurricane strength with winds of 75 mph. Humberto will likely become a major hurricane over the weekend, but it is no threat to land. It will pass between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast before heading out into the North Atlantic.
The one feature that could impact the south Atlantic coast of the U.S. is Invest 94L, which will likely become Tropical Storm Imelda over the weekend. Heavy rains and gusty winds are ongoing in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Turks and Caicos Islands and likely to spread across the Bahamas an eastern Cuba during the next couple of days. Interests in all of these areas should monitor the progress of the system.
While there is significant uncertainty in the long-range track and intensity of the system, the chances of wind, rainfall, and storm surge impacts for a portion of the southeast U.S. coast during the next several days are increasing. Some model ensemble members show a landfall on the South Carolina coast next week, while other members suggest the system will turn to the east, not reaching the coast.
Until the system gets a well-defined center and we get dropsonde data from hurricane hunter aircraft, there is little confidence in the track/intensity forecast.
No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf for at least the next 7-10 days.
FOOTBALL WEATHER: Auburn travels to College Station to take on Texas A&M Saturday (2:30 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be sunny with temperatures in the upper 80s during the first half, dropping back into the mid 80s by the final whistle.
Alabama will play Georgia in Athens Saturday night (6:30 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be mostly cloudy, and a passing shower can’t be ruled out, mainly during the first half. Temperatures will fall through the 70s during the game.
ON THIS DATE IN 2024: Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph. The storm caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding, particularly in western North Carolina, East Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, and spawned numerous tornadoes. Helene also inundated Tampa Bay, breaking storm surge records throughout the area. The hurricane had a high death toll, causing 252 deaths and inflicting an estimated total of $78.7 billion in damage, making it the fifth-costliest Atlantic hurricane on record adjusted for inflation.
Areas in the Black Mountains region in the western part of North Carolina were particularly devastated. Residents of Swannanoa also reported that no search and rescue operations had reached their location as of September 29, leaving several residents who had not prepared for the degree of flooding without food or drinkable water. A curfew was issued for Asheville due to damage which occurred inside the city. The storm and its aftermath caused 1,400 landslides and damaged over 160 water and sewer systems, at least 6,000 miles of roads, more than 1,000 bridges and culverts and an estimated 126,000 homes.
For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit the Alabama Weather Network.