Special Weather Statement, NWS Mobile, AL

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
425 PM CDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...Excessive Rainfall Event Possible over Portions of the Central
Gulf Coast Next Week...

.NEAR TERM /Now Through Sunday/...A nearly stationary trough of low
pressure continued to extend across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico
and adjacent northern portions of FL this afternoon, while a
persistent upper level ridge of high pressure stretched across TX
into the Lower Mississippi Valley region. A bit of subsidence is
noted across our forecast area between these features this
afternoon, with towering cumulus slow to grow over the region, and
only isolated coverage of showers and storms as of 3 PM. Heat
remains the rule, with mid-afternoon heat indices ranging between
105-110 across much of the region. A Heat Advisory remains in effect
until 7 PM CDT.

The persistent trough/area of low pressure will move little and
remain in the vicinity of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and the
adjacent northern FL peninsula through Sunday. Our forecast area
will remain within a light northerly flow pattern aloft between this
system and the ridge of high pressure that will continue to stretch
from TX to the Lower Mississippi River Valley region through Sunday
afternoon. In the near term through this evening, subsidence should
decrease, with increasing deep layer moisture over interior portions
of the forecast area, and the short term model guidance, along with
the HRRR indicate additional southward development of scattered
showers and thunderstorms across much of the region into at least
the mid evening (9-10 PM) hours. We have therefore maintained at
least 30-40 percent coverage of convection across the forecast area
through this time frame, with coverage becoming more isolated late
in the evening and overnight. Exception could be near the coast
after midnight into the early morning hours Sunday, where scattered
showers and storms could develop with better coverage focused
offshore. Precipitable water values (pwats) increase further to the
2.2-2.4" range across our forecast area during the day Sunday and
with a broad area of surface low pressure potentially developing over
the vicinity of AL/GA, we anticipate scattered showers and storms in
the morning becoming more numerous around the region by afternoon,
some with locally heavy rainfall. Precipitation probabilities are in
the 60-70% range across most of the forecast area by Sunday
afternoon. Highs still look quite warm Sunday, with readings in the
lower to mid 90s. Heat indices should fall just short of advisory
criteria, with max readings mostly in the 102-107 range. /21

.SHORT TERM /Sunday night Through Tuesday night/...a complex low
pressure system at high and low levels remains positioned over the
southeast US and northeast Gulf this period. An incipient upper level
low pressure system over the northern FL Peninsula Sun night is
forecast to remain in a nearly fixed state over the southeast US to
the central Gulf coast thru Tue. Building mid-level heights from the
TN River Valley to east of the Bahamas traps the southeast US low
from moving little, if any. An 850 millibar low and low level trof
axis extends from GA to southeast LA. There is no change to the above
normal, deep column of tropical moisture over the central Gulf coast
with pwats ranging from 2.25 to 2.50 inches. Considering the
placement and nearly stationary representation of the synoptic scale
low and the presence of deep moisture, forecast chances of showers
and storms change little overall from that of the previous shift. The
exception to this being over the coastal waters where forecasters
introduce likely to categorical chances throughout the short term
where the low level/surface trof axis provides for a better
enhancement in lift.

.LONG TERM /Wednesday Through Saturday/...Broad low pressure trof at
low and high levels moves little over the southeast US. Attendant
surface trof with a potential surface low embedded in the trof axis
sets up from southern MS to southern AL and will also be nearly
stationary as far as movement is concerned. A deeply moist, tropical
airmass holds firm and may increase by a category to between 2.50 and
2.75 inches. These values would lie near 3 standard deviations above
the mean, a large climatic anomaly heading into the middle of August.

Considering that the large synoptic scale low pressure system will
be a slow mover and interacting with very deep and anomalously high
atmospheric moisture profiles, forecasters continue to be concerned
about excessive rains and an increased flooding threat thru the long
term. Latest gridded forecasts of event total rains ending Sat
evening August 13th, suggest that the highest amounts, upwards of 5
to 10 inches of rain is possible along and southeast of I-65
generally along and southeast of a line from Andalusia to Mobile AL.
Closer to the coast, a few areas could very well see rain gauges
topping out near a foot of rain from Gulf Shores AL, east to Destin
FL before next weekend arrives. These amounts will likely result in
an elevated to significant flooding threat along with a rapid upward
response to area streams and rivers. Stay tuned. /10

With increase in clouds and above normal rainfall chances, high
temperatures will be reduced to several below climo for much of the
area next week, especially closer to the coast. Little change in
night-time lows, mid 70s interior to 77 to 81 closer to the beaches.
/10

&&

.MARINE...A trough of low pressure over the northeastern Gulf of
Mexico and adjacent northern FL will slowly move westward toward the
north central Gulf and adjacent portions of northwest FL/GA/AL
through much of next week. This feature will bring increasing
coverage of showers and thunderstorms over the marine area through
next week, some with very heavy rains, locally higher waves/seas,
and frequent lightning. Otherwise, moderate west to southwest winds
will prevail over the marine area through much of the week, along
with a gradual build in seas to 2 to 4 feet. All interests in the
north central Gulf should closely monitor weather conditions
through next week. /21

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Mobile      77  93  75  89 /  30  60  40  60
Pensacola   79  92  78  88 /  30  60  40  70
Destin      80  91  79  88 /  30  60  40  70
Evergreen   75  94  73  91 /  40  60  30  70
Waynesboro  76  95  74  92 /  40  70  40  40
Camden      75  94  74  92 /  40  70  40  60
Crestview   76  94  75  88 /  30  60  40  70

&&

.MOB Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
AL...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ALZ051>060-261>264.

FL...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for FLZ201-203-205.

MS...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MSZ067-075-076-078-
     079.

GM...None.
&&

This product is also available on the web at:
http://weather.gov/mob

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
437 PM CDT SAT AUG 6 2016

ALZ051>060-261>266-FLZ201>206-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-072145-
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-MOBILE INLAND-BALDWIN INLAND-MOBILE CENTRAL-
BALDWIN CENTRAL-MOBILE COASTAL-BALDWIN COASTAL-ESCAMBIA INLAND-
ESCAMBIA COASTAL-SANTA ROSA INLAND-SANTA ROSA COASTAL-
OKALOOSA INLAND-OKALOOSA COASTAL-WAYNE-PERRY-GREENE-STONE-GEORGE-
437 PM CDT SAT AUG 6 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT

DANGEROUS HEAT INDICES BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES WILL CONTINUE
ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON
AND POSSIBLY THIS EVENING MOVING SOUTHWARDS TOWARDS THE COAST LATER
IN THE EVENING. GUSTY STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND
PERIODS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SOME MINOR FLOODING
CAN BE EXPECTED.

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE GULF BEACHES OF
ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA THROUGH TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED EACH
DAY THROUGH THE PERIOD. THE STRONGER STORMS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL
DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS...AND PROLIFIC LIGHTNING.

THERE ARE INCREASING SIGNS THAT A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MAY BRING VERY
HEAVY TO POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL TO THE REGION...ESPECIALLY
DURING THE TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TIME FRAME. THE MOST FAVORED
LOCATION FOR SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL CURRENTLY APPEARS TO BE TO THE
SOUTH OF A FLORALA TO MOBILE LINE...THOUGH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL ALSO REMAIN POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REST OF THE AREA. HEAVY RAINS
COULD BRING AN INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR RIVER FLOODING AND AREAS OF
FLASH FLOODING NEXT WEEK. STAY TUNED FOR LATER UPDATES ON THIS
EVOLVING SITUATION.

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE GULF BEACHES OF
ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA THROUGH SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS CURRENTLY NOT ANTICIPATED.

GMZ630>635-650-655-670-675-072145-
NORTHERN MOBILE BAY-SOUTHERN MOBILE BAY-MISSISSIPPI SOUND-
PERDIDO BAY-PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM-CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
437 PM CDT SAT AUG 6 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE COASTAL
WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT

WINDS AND SEAS WILL BE HIGHER NEAR SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. GUSTY STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND
VERY HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. WATERSPOUTS
ARE ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

WINDS AND SEAS WILL BE HIGHER NEAR SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. ALL INTERESTS ALONG THE
COAST SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER
THE NORTHEAST GULF LATE THIS WEEKEND AND MUCH OF NEXT WEEK.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
544 PM CDT SAT AUG 6 2016

ALZ261-263-062345-
MOBILE INLAND AL-MOBILE CENTRAL AL-
544 PM CDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...CENTRAL
MOBILE COUNTY UNTIL 645 PM CDT...

AT 544 PM CDT...THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER PRICHARD...
MOVING WEST AT 5 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MIDTOWN MOBILE...DOWNTOWN MOBILE...PRICHARD...TILLMANS CORNER...
CHICKASAW...I65 AND AL 158...I65 AND I165 AND I10 AND I65.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3083 8821 3081 8800 3075 8799 3073 8800
      3073 8799 3071 8799 3071 8798 3070 8798
      3068 8800 3063 8797 3056 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 083DEG 5KT 3072 8808