Sunny + Low Dewpoints this Wknd
Good morning folks! The bulk of the rain is off to our east but showers will continue to pepper the region through the early afternoon hours as the front swings through the region. Dry air and cooler temps will take over Friday night and carry over into Saturday, setting the stage for a picture perfect Independence Day weekend, with sunny skies, low dewpoints, and slightly below normal temps Saturday into Monday. Moisture levels begin to increase Monday, but we should be able to squeeze out one more day of full sunshine before pop up showers return on Tuesday. The setup for next week is controlled by an uptick in southerly flow, as two fronts and a high pressure system work in tandem to funnel Gulf moisture our way, translating to shower chances/coverage increasing each day Tuesday into Thursday. We are not entirely sure what Tropical Storm Elsa will do, but if does veer away from our region we still expect scattered to widespread showers by Thursday or Friday next week. Temps all the while go from below normal on Saturday, to normal levels Sunday and Monday and then above normal levels Tuesday through the end of next week. Add in increasing moisture and muggy conditions are a sure bet, with heat indices in the upper 80's - low 90's starting Wednesday.
We'll kick off the timeline on Saturday and for those who live above 4500', it will be a cool start with temps in the upper 40's! Northerly winds around 5 - 15mph will stick around Saturday and Sunday, providing the region with low dewpoints and sunny skies each day. Temps warm to the upper 70's - low 80's across the valleys on Saturday, falling to the low - mid 50's Saturday night, rebounding to the mid 80's on Independence Day (Sunday). The higher elevations above 5000' will experience highs in the mid - upper 60's each afternoon, with overnight lows in the mid - upper 40's!
By Monday we'll notice a change in moisture levels, not necessarily sticky or muggy but not as nice as Saturday or Sunday. Southerly flow takes over as a Bermuda High is established, while at the same time a warm front moves north out of the Gulf South. We still expect mostly sunny skies on Monday but don't be surprised if a shower develops closer to sunset. Temps Monday reach the low 70's - mid 80's depending upon elevation, settling into the mid 50's - low 60's overnight into Tuesday.
Tuesday through Thursday features a steady uptick in shower activity, starting out with isolated thunderstorms Tuesday alongside partly cloudy skies that will give way to widespread shower activity on Thursday. Temps hit the upper 80's Tuesday and may cool down a degree or two by Thursday due to cloudy skies and persistent rainfall. The latter half of next week is not set in stone and with Elsa's track still up in the air our confidence level remains low, so be sure to check back in on Sunday for our next discussion, which should have a better handle on the Wed - Fri timeframe. ENJOY!