News from the South - Alabama News Feed
Helene is now a Hurricane
SUMMARY: Hurricane Helen is currently strengthening as it approaches the Gulf of Mexico, with maximum winds of 80 mph. The storm is moving north-northwest at 10 mph and is expected to reach category 2 status soon, potentially becoming a category 3 hurricane by tomorrow morning. It’s forecasted to make landfall near Appalachicola around 7 PM tomorrow, weakening quickly afterward. While the Gulf Coast will experience breezy conditions and a tropical storm warning in waterways, significant storm surge impacts will be focused on the eastern side of the storm. Rain chances and rough surf may affect Northwest Florida, so residents should stay informed on the latest developments.
HURRICANE HELENE is now a hurricane and will continue to strengthen as it enters the Gulf. The system continues to become more organized and is set for a period of possible rapid intensification. The storm is expected to become major hurricane by Thursday morning.
Right now, NHC has Helene picking up speed as it gets picked up by and upper-level trough. Currently, the cone of uncertainty stretches from the Panama City all the way to Cedar Key, FL. As this continues to develop, we could see more wobbles in the track.
As the center gets more organized, we could see shifts in the track. Even small shifts will impact what we see in the News 5 area. This system is also forecast to be big in size, meaning impacts will be felt well outside of the cone of uncertainty (where the center of the storm could pass).
ROUGH SURF – Waves of 8-14 feet, 6-10 feet in the surf zone. High Surf Warning in place from 6 AM Thursday to noon Friday
GUSTY WINDS (WATER)– Tropical Storm Warning for coastal waters of NW FL and offshore waters of AL. Small Craft Advisory in place for other local waters
GUSTY WINDS (LAND) – 20-30 mph wind gusts, some up to 45 mph mainly in NW FL (Wind Advisory for coastal NW FL from noon Thursday through 6 AM Friday)
RAIN – 1-3″, mainly east of Mobile Bay
COASTAL FLOODING – Minor flooding along coastal AL and NW FL Thursday evening
ISOLATED TORNADOES: Wednesday into Thursday, low risk in NW FL
These impacts COULD CHANGE if the forecast track changes. Stay tuned!
WHAT TO DO
Keep watching and we will continue to keep you updated. Make sure your kit and plan are ready to go.
News from the South - Alabama News Feed
Very Cold Mornings this Weekend, Dry through Monday: Friday Evening Forecast 12/20/2024
SUMMARY: It will be chilly this weekend, with temperatures in the 50s and lows in the 20s and 30s. Tomorrow will be cold, with a high of 53°F and wind chills in the 20s early in the morning. Christmas Eve will remain mostly dry, but Christmas Day will bring scattered showers, with highs reaching the low 70s. The cold air will last through Monday, with temperatures slowly warming up by Tuesday, reaching the upper 60s. Overall, expect a cold weekend with dry conditions, but temperatures will rise by Christmas Day, offering warmer weather for holiday activities.
A dry cold front will pass this evening, and behind it, we will see frigid conditions into Saturday morning. With winds continuing out …
News from the South - Alabama News Feed
First Pensacola Wawa now open
SUMMARY: This morning marked the grand opening of Pensacola’s first Wawa, a popular chain that originated in Philadelphia. The store, which broke ground in April, is the 251st Wawa in Florida. Joseph Collins, Wawa’s director of store operations, announced plans for an additional 20 stores in the Florida Panhandle over the next 3 to 5 years, responding to community demand. A Philadelphia native expressed excitement after counting down the days to the opening. Each location represents an investment of over $7.5 million and is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the region.
The first Pensacola Wawa opened Thursday morning.
FULL STORY: https://trib.al/U8Xd92V
News from the South - Alabama News Feed
Much Cooler Tonight, A Frigid Weekend Ahead for the Gulf Coast: Thursday Evening Forecast 12/19/2024
SUMMARY: Meteorologist Grant Skinner reports a transition to drier air in the News 5 area, with low clouds lingering before a dry cold front arrives late tomorrow. Current temperatures are around 50° by the coast, with inland areas cooler in the 40s. Overnight, temperatures will drop to the upper 30s inland and near 40° along the coast. Tomorrow will be breezy with highs in the mid-60s. A cold snap this weekend will bring lows in the low 30s, remaining below average. By Christmas, a warm front brings temperatures up to 70°, marking a significant change from the weekend cold.
Thanks to stubborn cloud cover, it was hard for many spots to make it out of the 50’s this afternoon. Tonight will be much cooler with even colder air arriving for the weekend. Lows by Friday morning will sit at around 40°, and we will have mostly clear skies. With lots of sunshine, highs will be seasonable by the afternoon in the mid-60’s. A dry cold front will pass through the region late Friday, and this will bring us a blast of cold air for the weekend. Lows into Saturday and Sunday morning will sit in the mid- to upper-20’s inland with low-30’s along I-10 and mid- to upper-30’s close to the coast. Highs will sit in the 50’s, and conditions will stay dry. To start the week of Christmas, we will begin to warm into the 60’s. Moisture will slowly push back into the area ahead of our next system. Late Christmas Eve into Christmas, isolated showers will be possible, and highs will sit at around 70°. A front will stall near the area keeping warm temperatures and clouds for Thursday.
The WKRG News 5 First Alert Storm Team covers part of southeast Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, and northwest Florida. You can also view the full Thursday evening forecast for the Gulf Coast here: https://tinyurl.com/5dp9smer
Follow Meteorologist Grant Skinner on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wkrggrant
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