Mainly Sunny & Really Warm At Midday

MAINLY SUNNY SKIES AND QUITE WARM AT MIDDAY
As we take a look at the GOES-16 (non-operational) visible satellite image of Alabama at noon, we have mostly clear skies overhead with a few cumulus clouds. Unfortunately, those clouds are not providing any relief from the above-normal heat that we are experiencing thanks to the ridge in place over the southeast.

At 12:10 PM, you can see (and feel) that it is quite warm out there in Central Alabama. Temperatures are currently ranging from the mid-80s to 90 degrees throughout the area. Several locations are tied at 90 degrees as the warm spots, while the cool spots are Haleyville and Bessemer at 84 degrees. Birmingham is currently at 88 degrees.

REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS
We will continue to have mainly sunny skies with just a few cumulus clouds dotting the sky. It will be mighty warm out there as well, with afternoon highs hitting the upper 80s to at or just over 90 degrees. Clear and fair conditions tonight, with temperatures in the lower to mid-70s by 10:00 PM. Overnight lows will be in the mid-60s to near 70 degrees.

THURSDAY WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF REALLY WARM TEMPERATURES FOR A WHILE
We will have plenty of sunshine throughout Central Alabama with a couple of clouds, but we’ll also have plenty of warmth as well. Afternoon highs will top out in the mid-80s to the lower 90s throughout the area. Good news is that a cold front will start to work through the area tomorrow, holding highs back in the northern half of the area starting on Friday.

BACK UP TO TWO HURRICANES IN THE ATLANTIC
Maria has strengthened back to a minimal hurricane, but the turn out to sea has now started as motion is currently to the north-northeast at 6 MPH. Conditions will gradually start to improve for the Carolina coastline as Maria will pick up in forward speed tomorrow morning while weakening, and will be a fish storm by Friday morning.

Lee has become the fifth major hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, as maximum sustained winds have now reached 115 MPH. Movement is to the northwest at 7 MPH currently, but is expected to increase in forward speed as it curves to the northeast and begins to weaken. No threat to land at all.

OUR TROPICAL WEATHER CATEGORY HAS THE LATEST ON ALL ACTIVE STORMS
Stay up-to-date with the latest updates on all of the tropical systems out in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or in the Gulf of Mexico with the latest posts in our Tropical Weather section. Click here to see the latest.

GOT BEACH PLANS?
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ON THIS DAY IN WEATHER HISTORY
1959 – A tornado 440 yards in width traveled twenty miles from near Hollow, OK, to western Cherokee County KS. Although a strong tornado, it was very slow moving, and gave a tremendous warning roar, and as a result no one was killed.

from The Alabama Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2yHsGVf