HURRICANE FLORENCE, ISAAC, AND INVEST 95L… Hurricane Watches and a Storm Surge Watch will be issued for portions of the North Carolina and South Carolina coast today ahead of the arrival of Major Hurricane Florence later this week. Isaac weakened to a tropical storm overnight. We’re also watching the tropical wave set to enter the southern Gulf of Mexico later today. Locally, scattered storms will happen across south Alabama and northwest Florida with some sunshine in the mix. Let’s look at the headlines…
– Scattered thunderstorms will pop up across our region today. The severe weather threat remains at basically zero, but lots of lightning and heavy rain will happen. High temperatures peak near 90°.
– Hurricane Florence continues to move west-northwest. The system will move more to the northwest starting today. Maximum winds remain near 130 mph and Florence is a category 4 hurricane. More strengthening is likely before landfall in North Carolina later this week. Local impacts in south Alabama and northwest Florida are not expected.
– The tropical wave in the western Caribbean (branded as INVEST 95L) will move into the southern Gulf of Mexico today. The National Hurricane Center says there is a 60% chance this area of low pressure becomes a tropical storm in the days ahead as it approaches the Texas coast. Local impacts in south Alabama and northwest Florida are not expected as of now.
– Isaac weakened to tropical storm status overnight with maximum winds near 70 mph. Isaac will be around that same strength over the next few days as it approaches the Leeward Islands. Once the system crosses the Antilles into the Caribbean Sea, forecast confidence drops off pretty dramatically. Some models ramp the system up to a major hurricane while others call for complete dissipation. We’ll keep watching.
– Hurricane Helene is in the far eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean well away from land. Maximum winds are near 110 mph.
– We’re on the evening video schedule this week. Here is last night’s video and long form text discussion.
– We remember all of the families affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks 17 years ago today. We are thankful for our brave military men and woman and law enforcement officers who serve our country each and every day.
Have a great Tuesday!