HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
While it will be a very warm to hot day across Central Alabama, the humidity values will remain just low enough that the daytime heating will remain bearable and not all that sticky. Skies will range from mainly sunny to partly cloudy from north to south and there will be a small chance of a few isolated to scattered afternoon to early evening showers and storms mainly along and south of the US-80 and I-85 corridors in the extreme southern parts of the area. Afternoon highs will be in the mid-80s to the lower 90s. Any shower activity will dissipate by dusk and skies will be mainly clear for the fireworks displays that will take place. Lows will be in the 60s.
THIS WEEK
Moisture will pull back up into Central Alabama on Monday, which will bring back the mugginess and a small chance of a few isolated to scattered afternoon showers and storms, mainly over the southern half of the area. Highs will be in the upper 80s to the lower 90s.
More moisture on Tuesday means even more mugginess and a few more scattered showers and storms, mainly during the afternoon and early evening hours, across the area. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.
Showers and storms will be likely at times across Central Alabama on Wednesday, with the activity being most active during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs will be in the lower to mid-80s.
It’s pretty much the same story on Thursday, as increased moisture will keep showers and thunderstorms likely at times, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.
And really no change for Friday as well… Showers and storms will be likely at times, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.
THE CENTRAL ALABAMA WEEKEND
The scattered shower and storm chances will drop back to around 50/50 odds on Saturday during the afternoon and evening hours, but a surface front looks to push into the area on Sunday that will make those rain chances likely at times once again, especially for the northern half of the area. Saturday’s highs look to top out in the lower 80s to the lower 90s, but dropping way back to the lower to mid-80s across the area on Sunday.
THE TROPICS
As of the 4 am update from the National Hurricane Center, the center of Elsa was located around 85 miles east of Kingston, Jamaica, and was moving to the west-northwest at 14 mph. The maximum sustained winds were at 65 mph, with gusts up to 75 mph. An additional decrease in forward speed is expected later today, followed by a turn toward the northwest tonight or Monday. On the forecast track, Elsa will move away from the southern portion of Haiti during the next couple of hours, and move near Jamaica and portions of eastern Cuba later this morning. By Monday, Elsa is expected to move across central and western Cuba and head toward the Florida Straits. Elsa is then forecast to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Some slight strengthening is possible today as Elsa approaches the south-central coast of Cuba. However, slow weakening is forecast to occur tonight and Monday when Elsa moves across Cuba. After Elsa emerges over the Florida Straits and southeastern Gulf of Mexico, some slight restrengthening is possible. At this point, Elsa is expected to stay at tropical-storm-strength prior to the Florida landfall and as it rides northeastward along the east coast of the US through Friday morning. Unless there is a major shift in the forecast track, we will see no effects on our weather from Elsa, and neither will the Alabama Gulf Coast.
The rest of the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico is free from any tropical mischief and no new tropical cyclones are expected over the next five days.
Central Alabama Weather 