Weather Aware Tonight through Friday for Impacts of Heavy Rain, Flooding, and Gusty Winds from Helene
Helene will make landfall along the eastern side of the Big Bend of Florida east of Apalachicola, FL as a Category 4 Major Hurricane by this evening. Bands of heavy rain will move north of the center of the storm across Central Alabama through this evening.
Tonight: cloudy and windy with heavy rain along and east of I-65. West of I-65 will be cloudy and breezy with just a few showers. Lows will be in the middle 60s.
Rain totals of 2-7" are possible by Friday morning. The highest totals will be across Eastern Alabama, or closer to the center of Helene. This is where the chance for flash flooding will occur. A Flood Watch is in effect for areas along and east of I-65 until Friday morning.
It will become breezy with sustained winds of 15-25 mph, and gusts of 35-50 mph. Some trees could fall and expect a few power outages. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the counties that border Georgia. A Wind Advisory is in effect through Friday evening for areas between I-65 and the Tropical Storm Warning.
Friday: Helene will lift northwest into Tennessee during the day as it interacts with an upper-level low. The afternoon will be mostly cloudy and windy with scattered showers wrapping around the center of Helene. Winds could gust over 30 mph. High temperatures will remain in the 70s.
Friday evening will be mostly cloudy and breezy with a few showers for the high school football games. Temperatures will be in the 70s at kickoff.
Weekend Outlook: The remnants of Helene will stall north of Alabama on Saturday, and drier air will move in from the west. We will be mostly cloudy with only a few showers wrapping around the center of Helene. It will be warmer with highs in the upper 70s. The weather will be cloudy with a chance for a shower for the Alabama vs. Georgia game at 6:30 PM in Tuscaloosa with temps. falling into the 60s. The 2:45 PM Auburn vs. Oklahoma game in Auburn, and it will be mostly cloudy and breezy with a stray shower possible. Temps. will be in the 70s. Sunday will be mostly cloudy sky with a stray shower or two. Highs will be in the lower 80s.
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