FOUR DISTURBANCES BUT NO U.S. IMPACTS OVER THE NEXT 5-7 DAYS… The National Hurricane Center is now highlighting four (yes, 4) potential tropical development areas in the Atlantic Ocean over the next 5 days, HOWEVER the good news is NONE of these tropical disturbances are expected to reach the United States anytime in the next week. Tropical Depression Nana continues to weaken over the high terrain of southern Mexico and Guatemala. Tropical Depression Omar continues to weaken over the northern Atlantic, well away from land. Let’s look at some Thursday evening forecast notes.
THREE TROPICAL DISTURBANCES IN EASTERN & CENTRAL ATLANTIC… The eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean is a mess, with multiple tropical disturbances noted this evening. Model data has also been, quite frankly, a mess. I say this because there have been consistent signals of tropical storm formation in this area of the Atlantic, but none so far. The overall model signal is clear that tropical storm formation is likely. There could be one, two, maybe even three tropical storms forming from these messy tropical waves in the days ahead. There is no way to know whether these disturbances will become tropical storms that ultimately reach the shores of the United States (or any other land zone, for that matter). We’ll keep watching the tropical waves this weekend and bring you the latest in the RedZone Weather app.
WEAK DISTURBANCE IN OPEN ATLANTIC WELL NORTHEAST OF BERMUDA… There is a weak, disorganized tropical disturbance located northeast of Tropical Depression Omar in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This system may briefly become a tropical storm or subtropical storm as it drifts around over the northern Atlantic Ocean. Regardless of if formal development happens, this disturbance won’t affect land areas directly. Good news!
OMAR LIKELY TO DISSIPATE OVERNIGHT… Tropical Depression Omar continues to weaken over the open waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean, well northeast of Bermuda. There is a good chance that Omar will completely dissipate overnight or on Friday. Regardless of if the storm dissipates soon or not, the system is not expected to affect land areas over the next few days.
NANA WEAKENING OVER CENTRAL AMERICA… What once was Hurricane Nana continues to spin down over the high, mountainous terrain of central America near the border of Guatemala and southern Mexico. Nana is now a tropical depression and is expected to dissipate over the next 24 hours. The remnants of Nana may move into the eastern Pacific Ocean and re-develop into a tropical storm in that basin.
MOSTLY SUNNY FRIDAY… Mostly sunny skies are expected across south Alabama and northwest Florida on Friday. High temperatures will be in the mid-90s in the afternoon hours with heat index values likely to be in excess of 103° at times. Very little (10-20% chance) (if any) rain is expected.
WARM & DRY FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL… Mostly clear skies are expected around 7PM on Friday as many high school teams across the region get set for Friday Night Lights. Kickoff temperatures will be near 87° in most spots with 4th quarter temps (around 9PM) around 80°. No rain is expected.
INCREASING AMOUNT OF STORMS THIS WEEKEND… Rain chances will progressively rise this weekend into early next week. Pop-up storms will again become the norm next week, primarily in the afternoon and evening hours each day. High temperatures this weekend will be in the mid-90s with morning lows in the low-70s.
ABOUT THAT COOL DOWN NEXT WEEK… Global weather models continue to back off the idea of cooler air moving this far south in the middle of next week. We will likely get some heat relief with high temperatures dropping into the mid- to upper-80s by Wednesday with morning lows likely to be in the mid-60s by Thursday and Friday morning (a week from now).
APP ALERTS… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I will have your next full forecast video posted by 7:15AM on Friday. See you then!