SCATTERED STRONG STORMS TODAY; LOW-END SEVERE WEATHER RISK AGAIN… Another round of thunderstorms will pop up this afternoon into this evening across south Alabama and northwest Florida. The entire local area is involved in a low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone today, meaning one or two stronger or marginally severe thunderstorms will be possible. The main concern in any storms that can briefly become stronger will be the potential for damaging straight line winds. There is no discernible tornado risk today, thankfully. High temperatures will again be in the mid-90s with heat index values likely to be in excess of 100° this afternoon. A few more Wednesday morning forecast notes are below.
LOW-END, LEVEL 1 (OUT OF 5) SEVERE WEATHER RISK FOR ENTIRE AREA… The Storm Prediction Center maintains our entire local area in south Alabama and northwest Florida in their low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) severe weather risk valid for today (Wednesday). Similar to yesterday, the concern is that a few of the thunderstorms that pop up this afternoon into this evening could be strong or marginally severe. Most communities will not have severe weather today, but some inevitably will. Thunderstorms today could produce heavy rain, gusty winds, loud thunder, and cloud-to-ground lightning. If you’re close enough to a storm to hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning. Please move indoors if/when a storm pops up near your location this afternoon.
HEIGHTENED RAIN CHANCES OVER NEXT FEW DAYS… Atmospheric moisture will increase across the region over the next several days, meaning our chances of showers and thunderstorms each day will also increase. Friday, in particular, looks quite wet with numerous thunderstorms likely to develop in the afternoon and evening hours. Scattered thunderstorms will continue to be possible into the weekend, with most of the storms happening in the afternoon and evening hours each day.
TROPICAL WAVE IN CARIBBEAN TO MOVE TOWARD BAY OF CAMPECHE… The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a tropical wave moving northwest across parts of the west-central Caribbean Sea. This tropical wave has a 20-30% chance of becoming a named tropical storm once it reaches the Bay of Campeche in the southern Gulf of Mexico later this week. Most of the major global weather models show a continued northwesterly movement into mainland Mexico or south Texas later this week or into the weekend. No local impacts in south Alabama or northwest Florida are expected from this system at this time.
REMAINDER OF TROPICAL ATLANTIC IS QUIET… Outside of the aforementioned tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea, the remainder of the Atlantic Basin is remarkably quiet for mid-August. No tropical storms are expected to form across the main development region of The Atlantic Ocean over the next 5-7 days.
APP… 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.
See all the details in your Wednesday morning #rzw forecast video. Have a great day!