MAINLY QUIET OUTSIDE AT 11:40 AM
All of North/Central Alabama is rain-free as we make the approach to the midday hour with the exception of portions of Pike, Barbour, and Bullock counties. A cluster of strong storms could potentially produce winds up to 50 MPH and pea-size hail. These storms were moving slowly to the north around 10 MPH. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding.
Temperatures as of the official 11:00 am readings were in the upper 70s to the lower 80s across the area. Birmingham was the warm spot at 82 degrees. The cool spots were Alexander City and Haleyville at 78 degrees.
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS STORMS TODAY, SOME POSSIBLY STRONG TO SEVERE
With the heating of the day and the proximity of a surface low just to our southwest, we can expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to form from now through the afternoon and into the early evening hours.
All of Central Alabama and nearly all of North Alabama has been placed in a Level 1 Marginal Risk for severe storms throughout the afternoon and evening hours today. Damaging winds up to 60 MPH and quarter size hail will be the threats with any stronger storm. The main window for those stronger to severe storms will be from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm, but don’t be surprised if we get some popping up before the start of that window. Highs will top out in the mid to upper 80s across the area.
While the coverage in showers and storms will diminish somewhat for the late-night and overnight hours, we still will have a chance of a few scattered showers and storms throughout the overnight hours. While we can’t completely rule out a strong storm or two, the likelihood of those occurring during the late-night and overnight hours is small. Lows will be in the upper 60s to the lower 70s.
POTENTIAL FOR MORE STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ON FRIDAY
It’s going to be much of the same story for tomorrow… Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Friday afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts up to 60 MPH and hail up to quarter size are possible. Showers and storms will be possible early and becoming likely by the afternoon hours. Afternoon highs will top out in the mid to upper 80s.
TD-13 SOON TO BECOME TROPICAL STORM LAURA
As of 10:00 am CDT, the center of TD-13 was located around 750 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands and moving to the west-northwest at 21 MPH. The maximum sustained winds were at 35 MPH. On the forecast track, the depression is expected to move near or north of the northern Leeward Islands by late Friday and near or north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday. Gradual strengthening is forecast, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today.
People along the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coasts will need to stay informed and have a plan. Remember, it may take a little longer and be a little more complex to try to complete everything needed to get supplies and secure belongings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is still way to early to know exact impacts, but there will be an increasing risk of rip currents beginning this weekend. Seas will likely increase and a moderate risk of rip currents beginning tomorrow and a high risk beginning Sunday.
TD-14 FORMED EARLIER THIS MORNING
As of 10:00 am CDT, the center of TD-14 was located around 235 miles east of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border and moving to the west at 21 MPH. The maximum sustained winds were at 35 MPH. On the forecast track, the center of the system will move near or just north of the northeastern coast of Honduras and the Bay Islands on Friday and will approach the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on Saturday. The center is then expected to cross the Yucatan Peninsula Saturday night and move into the south-central Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. Strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today or tonight. The system could be near or at hurricane strength when it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico late Saturday.
A THIRD TROPICAL SYSTEM WILL BE EMERGING FROM AFRICA LATER TODAY
A tropical wave over western Africa is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms near the Africa coast. This wave is expected to move over the far eastern tropical Atlantic on Friday, and some slow development is possible through the weekend while it moves west-northwestward at 15 to 20 MPH across the eastern tropical Atlantic. Formation chance through the next five days is medium around 40%.
Central Alabama Weather 