RAIN LIKELY TODAY, PARTICULARLY THIS EVENING; FEW STORMS POSSIBLE NEAR COAST… Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are likely at times on this Wednesday. Communities closer to the coast have a higher rain chance throughout the day compared to communities farther inland, but chances of rain are fairly high across the entire region throughout the day. The greatest chance of any thunderstorms happening will happen in areas along and south of the Interstate 10 corridor in parts of Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Baldwin, and Mobile counties. Fortunately, widespread severe storms are NOT expected today across south Alabama or northwest Florida. Showers will likely be MOST numerous today in the evening hours. Be ready for rain at times throughout the day!
HIGHEST RAIN AMOUNTS NEAR THE BEACHES… 2 to 4 inches of total rainfall today will be possible in areas closer to the coast with widespread amounts of 1 to 3 inches of rain being the norm farther inland. There is a chance flash flooding becomes a problem in some coastal communities later today, despite the rampant drought conditions ongoing across the region. I will have radar updates posted throughout the day, as needed, in the RedZone Weather app.
SEVERE WEATHER RISK TO OUR SOUTHEAST IN PARTS OF FLORIDA… No part of southwest Alabama or northwest Florida is involved in any formal severe weather risk zone today. The Storm Prediction Center has included parts of the Florida Panhandle and Florida Peninsula in severe weather risk zones today. There is a low-end tornado risk in place today for Mexico Beach, Wewahitchka, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, Tallahassee, Ocala, Orlando, and Ft. Myers in Florida. Areas near Tampa and St. Petersburg are involved in a Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone where a few tornadoes and areas of damaging wind gusts will be possible.
SPOTTY SHOWERS POSSIBLE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY… Clouds will likely hang tough on Thursday but rain chances will briefly subside somewhat ahead of slightly higher rain chances again on Friday. Widespread severe weather is not expected on Thursday or Friday but there may be a few spotty thunderstorms around, particularly Friday evening. Some of the high school football games across the region on Friday night may be wet with scattered showers and thunderstorms being possible in the 7-9PM time range.
COOLER AND DRIER THIS WEEKEND INTO NEXT WEEK… Saturday will serve as somewhat of a transition day as temperatures gradually begin to fall. Highs on Saturday will be in the upper-70s and near 80° ahead of much cooler temperatures by Sunday morning. Lows will be near 50° by Sunday morning with highs only in the 70s later that day. High temperatures may struggle to get to the 70 degree mark by Monday. Dry, sunny weather is in the forecast Saturday evening, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
TROPICAL WAVE IN CENTRAL ATLANTIC… The National Hurricane Center continues to suggest there is a high (80%) chance of a named tropical storm developing in the central Atlantic Ocean over the next few days. A tropical wave, located about halfway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles, continues to show signs of becoming better organized. The system will likely become a tropical storm in the days ahead while moving generally northwest. No direct land impacts are expected due to this system over the next 5-7 days, regardless of if formal development happens.
APP… Many updates will be posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app, as needed. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Be sure to visit the Alerts tab (bottom right corner) and tap the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize the alerts you’d like to receive from me. If you like a lot of info, be sure to toggle ON Low-Level Alerts.
See all the details in your Wednesday morning RedZone Weather forecast video. Have a great day!