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Nice band of rain moved across Alabama yesterday giving just about everyone in Central Alabama some rain. At my house I measured about a third of an inch, and I was happy to get rain not having had any for 14 days! Along with the rain came cooler and drier air. Dewpoints this morning were in the lower 60s but to the northwest were dewpoints in the mid and upper 50s. If we get that drier air into Central Alabama tonight, it could be a good night to open the windows and cool off the house.
The eastern US trough deeepens and sets up show over the western Carolinas, eastern Tennessee, and northeast Georgia for the first of the upcoming week, so northwesterly flow will continue keeping our temperatures in check as a gradual warming trend begins.
By mid week the strong ridge to our west this weekend will begin to influence our weather. The ridge dampens somewhat and the main storm track becomes established across the northern tier of the US. Surface high pressure toward the end of next week will keep moisture from the Gulf cut-off from the Southeast, but we'll probably have to introduce the possibility of isolated showers.
One concern I have that comes with the northwesterly flow is the possibility of thunderstorm complexes developing over Kansas or Missouri and plunging south and southeast in that flow. The GFS is not hinting at it on the latest model run, but it is a distinct possibility.
I hope that you have an opportunity to spend some time with your family this weekend. Be sure to enjoy the drier and cooler weather - perhaps our last such occurrence until the approach of Fall.
-Brian-
