Labor Day Weekend Weather Preview

Isaac has been the big headline-grabber around the South this week, and it will still be impacting the region through the Labor Day Weekend. The latest forecast track takes the center of low pressure northward into Arkansas as a weakening tropical depression on Friday. That means the greatest chance of rain and storms (and any measurable risk of severe weather) will be west of the Tennessee Valley to begin the Labor Day Weekend.

Rain is possible through the entire weekend, but I won’t use the term “likely” since the showers and storms will be more of the typical scattered summer showers and storms (not the widespread, flooding rain and wind happening in southern Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana). Rain chances fluctuate a little day to day through early next week (numbers are for the Tennessee Valley), but there is not one single day that sticks out as “the day” it’s going to rain area-wide:

So, let’s talk specifics (as specific as we can be, that is)!

High School Football:

Thursday Night Games: There is a chance of some showers or thunderstorms mainly between 10 AM and 7 PM on Thursday; a few isolated showers or storms could linger into the second half of a game or two, but we expect most Thursday night games to be free of major weather troubles. Temperatures will drop from around 80 at kick off to the mid-70s in the 4th quarter. The chance of rain at 7 PM is about 30%; it drops to about 10% in the fourth quarter. Pack an umbrella or poncho just in case you’re the unlucky one getting a tropical downpour during a game!

Friday Night Games: Just like Thursday, we expect the chance of a shower or storm during the first half, but since the coverage of showers will be limited, most stadiums will get away with no rain at all. It would be a good idea to have some rain gear with you, but it is doubtful that you will need it. The chance of rain starts out at 7 PM around 20% and drops to near zero by the fourth quarter. Temperatures will fall from the 80 to 85 range to around 75 by the end of the games.

College Football:
Alabama A&M versus Tuskegee (Birmingham – 7 PM Saturday): Isolated storms with a high around 89º. Game time temps around 80º.

UNA versus Miles College (Birmingham – 6 PM Sunday): Scattered storms, high near 89º. Game time temps in the mid-80s.

Weekend Travel:

Dallas for Alabama versus Michigan:

• Friday: Partly to mostly cloudy at times. High: 94. Chance of Rain: <10%. (NOTE: Travel to Dallas on Thursday or Friday will be breezy and wet across Louisiana and Arkansas!)
• Saturday: Sunny and very hot! High: 98.
• Sunday: Sunny and very hot! High: 98.
• Monday: Another hot, sunny day. High: 99.

Atlanta for Auburn versus Clemson:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers or storms. High: 87. Chance of Rain: 30%.
• Saturday: Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated showers or storms. High: 88. Chance of Rain: 30%.
• Sunday: Partly sunny. Scattered showers and storms. High: 88. Chance of Rain: 40%.
• Monday: Clouds and sun. A few showers possible. High: 88.

Gulf Shores:

• Friday: (Tornado threat decreasing as Isaac’s rain bands move away) High: 86. Chance of Rain: 50%
• Saturday: Partly sunny and warm. Scattered mainly afternoon showers/storms. High: 87. Chance of Rain: 30%.
• Sunday: Partly cloudy, warm and humid. Isolated showers & storms. High: 89. Chance of Rain: 30%.
• Monday: Clouds & sun. A few scattered showers and storms. High: 89. Chance of Rain: 40%.

Panama City:

• Friday: A few mainly PM showers or storms. High: 87. Chance of Rain: 30%
• Saturday: Partly cloudy. A few t’storms possible. High: 89. Chance of Rain: 30%.
• Sunday: Partly cloudy. A few scattered storms. High: 87. Chance of Rain: 30%.
• Monday: Sunny and warm with a few stray showers or storms. High: 88. Chance of Rain: 30%.

Chattanooga:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers & storms. High: 87. Chance of Rain: 40%.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy. A good chance of some scattered showers or storms. High: 90. Chance of Rain: 50%.
• Sunday: Cloudy at times. Showers and storms numerous in the afternoon. High: 89. Chance of Rain: 50%.
• Monday: Partly to mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and storms. High: 90. Chance of Rain: 30%.

Gatlinburg:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy. A few showers possible. High: 86. Chance of Rain: 30%.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy. A good chance of some scattered showers or storms. High: 87. Chance of Rain: 50%.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy. A good chance of some scattered showers or storms. High: 87. Chance of Rain: 50%
• Monday: Mostly cloudy. A few showers. High: 86. Chance of Rain: 30%.

Memphis:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy. Rain and a few storms likely. High: 89. Chance of Rain: 50%.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy. A good chance of some scattered storms; isolated storms severe. High: 88. Chance of Rain: 50%.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy. A chance of some scattered showers. High: 88. Chance of Rain: 40%.
• Monday: Mostly sunny & hotter. A small chance of rain. High: 92. Chance of Rain: 30%.

-Jason
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