Clear Weekend

The clouds exit state left tonight as we begin to see a dry pattern shift into the Pine Belt. This weekend is completely different from last weekend (too bad this isn't the holiday weekend), but I'm sure you will be able to find plenty of outdoor activities this weekend. High pressure is sending a stable air mass over our head to deliver plenty of sunshine throughout the next few days. Then a low pressure system will form near midweek to try and force our next shot of showers, but I still have low confidence for squeezing any rainfall out of the system. As for now, please enjoy this weekend! Send your sunny weather pics to "Send it to 7" pics@wdam.com -Tanner tcade@wdam.com

First Tropical Depression Forms

The first tropical depression of the season has formed off of the Mid Atlantic coast but poses no threat to the gulf coastal states. It may become "Ana" briefly before encountering cooler waters but should only be a shipping lanes threat. For us , we are in for an extended dry spell with warm to hot afternoons and mild nights. Rex

Sunny, drier weather on tap for weekend !

For the next several days we will run the risk of mainly afternoon and early evening showers and thunderstorms but come late Thursday a front will sweep through the Pine Belt bringing with it sunny and dry weather for Friday , Saturday and Sunday. Highs each day will continue to be in the 80s and lows in the 60s. Don't forget that June 1st is the official start of the 2009 hurricane season ! Have a great day ! Rex

Not the best day for grilling

(Monday 9:20am) As many of you have already gathered, this Memorial day is not the best day to be cooking outside. The low pressure that we've been tracking for a week now is centered over Arkansas. As is sits there, it's funneling rain out of the Gulf of Mexico and dragging it directly over the Pine Belt.

As the day rolls along we can expect some breaks in the rain during the afternoon and evening but not enough to make a huge difference. I suggest you take a look at our "Future Cast" at the top of the WDAM Weather Page if you want to get a feel for the day.

As for the week... thanks to this low, we will have a similar pattern all week until a front pushes through late Friday. After that, some high pressure should take over and gives a few dry days.

-Nick

Clearing Tonght

We've talked about rain for a long time and experienced a lot of rain this morning, but it seems the Low Pressure system moving out of the area is taking the rain for the remainder of the day as well. Mostly Cloudy skies tonight will remain till tomorrow morning. Then I expect to see showers pop-up near 1pm...which will only add more rain to the book. Will we see 10" in the month of May?

From the NHC @ 6:40am

SATELLITE IMAGERY...RADAR DATA...AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE
THAT THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF
OF MEXICO ABOUT 75 MILES SOUTH OF MOBILE ALABAMA HAS CHANGED LITTLE
IN ORGANIZATION DURING THE LAST FEW HOURS.  ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OF THIS SYSTEM IS BECOMING LESS LIKELY...SINCE THE CENTER WILL BE
MOVING ONSHORE LATER THIS MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON.  THE AIR
FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT MISSION SCHEDULED TO
INVESTIGATE THE LOW LATER TODAY HAS BEEN CANCELED.  THERE IS NOW A
LOW CHANCE...LESS THAN 30 PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A
TROPICAL CYCLONE BEFORE IT REACHES THE COAST LATER TODAY.
REGARDLESS OF DEVELOPMENT...HEAVY RAINS AND OCCASIONALLY GUSTY
WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF THE NORTH-CENTRAL AND
NORTHEAST GULF COAST THROUGH THE DAY...AND INTERESTS IN THIS AREA
SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE SYSTEM.

ANOTHER SPECIAL OUTLOOK ON THIS SYSTEM WILL BE ISSUED THIS
AFTERNOON...IF NECESSARY.

Latest Tropical Weather Outlook

A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS CENTERED OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO
ABOUT 200 MILES SOUTH OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA. SATELLITE IMAGERY
INDICATES THAT THE ASSOCIATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO
INCREASE THIS EVENING. ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS
POSSIBLE...AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM BEFORE THE LOW
MOVES INLAND OVER THE NORTHERN GULF COAST ON SATURDAY. AN AIR
FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WILL INVESTIGATE THE LOW
TOMORROW...IF NECESSARY. THERE IS A MEDIUM CHANCE...30 TO 50
PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS. REGARDLESS OF DEVELOPMENT...HEAVY RAINS AND
OCCASIONALLY GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF THE
NORTHERN GULF COAST TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...AND INTERESTS IN THIS
AREA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE SYSTEM.