STORMS NEAR PENSACOLA… Numerous showers and thunderstorms continue to pop up across south Alabama and northwest Florida as we approach the lunch hour. The heaviest rain at the moment is located near and just west of the Pensacola metro area along the U.S. Highway 29 corridor. Storms extend northward in Escambia County, FL up to Molino.

Heavy rain is also happening along US29 and US84 near Andalusia, Carolina, and Sanford in Covington County. Small storms are happening region wide. Be ready for scattered downpours this afternoon!

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NUMEROUS SHOWERS & STORMS… The radar display is becoming very active late on this Thursday morning. Storms are rapidly firing across south Alabama and northwest Florida. Be ready for scattered downpours of heavy rain over the next few hours!

Right now, the heaviest rain is happening near Orange Beach and Perdido Key near the Flora-Bama. Small thunderstorms are also popping up inland, where storms are so numerous that it is safe to say that if you’re in our local area, you’re not far from a developing storm! Heavy rain and lots of lightning will be the main concerns today. Widespread severe weather is not expected.

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RUMORS OF COOL WEATHER GREATLY EXAGGERATED… I know many folks are itching for cooler weather after a long, hot, stormy summer, but the posts I’ve seen as of late suggesting a late August cool down are exaggerated. Getting cooler air into Alabama and northwest Florida in August just doesn’t happen that much and despite some runs of specific weather models suggesting a somewhat strong cold front might move through, that is the outlier scenario as of now. We maintain our seasonal high temperatures in the 90s with a chance of storms each day over the next 7 days.

POP-UP STORMS AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON… Showers and thunderstorms are expected (yet again) this afternoon and this evening across south Alabama and northwest Florida. High temperatures will be around 92 in most spots with heat index values at or above 100 degrees!

TROPICAL WAVE APPROACHING ANTILLES… The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave that is approaching the Lesser Antilles from the west. NHC indicates that this system has a 10-20% chance of becoming a tropical storm over the next 4 days as it moves east. Atmospheric shear is expected to substantially increase early next week, however. This is good news. Regardless of if development happens, the system will likely be ripped apart in the western Caribbean next week.

WEEKEND OUTLOOK… I see no reason to modify the forecast for the weekend in that more scattered thunderstorms will be around in the P.M. hours. High temperatures will again peak near or just above 90 with morning lows around 73. If you’re headed to an Alabama or northwest Florida beach this weekend, there should be plenty of sunshine hours. Have a way to check the radar, however, as storms will pop up in the heat of the day.

SUBTROPICAL STORM ERNESTO STAYS AWAY… The National Hurricane Center started issuing advisories on Subtropical Storm Ernesto late Wednesday morning. Ernesto is moving northward and is far away from any land mass. The system will not affect land at all over the next few days as it drifts northward over cooler water.

See all the graphics and details in your Thursday #rzw forecast video… Have a wonderful day!

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