It’s breezy out there across the Tennessee Valley this afternoon! We can thank a cold front to our west for the strong southerly wind over the next few days. That cold front will impact our weather in the form of a slight inconvenience, bringing us rain and maybe a few rumbles of thunder Tuesday night though midday Wednesday. However, our weather will be rather unsettled this week, especially compared to how quiet we have been recently. Expect a mix of sun and clouds for the rest of today as gusts up to 25-30mph continue even through tomorrow. Today is dry for the region, rain chances return Tuesday.
Weather will not be an issue as you head to the polls, aside from breezy conditions. Rain chances will begin to increase as polls close in the evening, so if you’re heading to vote after work you may see a few showers in the area. Most rain/storm activity will hold off until later in the evening. Better chances for rain Tuesday night would be for the western half of our viewing area.
As the line of rain and storms weakens as it moves into the TN Valley, rain chances still continue overnight with a few leftover showers in the area for the first half of Wednesday. That front will lose *its* moisture for the most part as it hangs out over our area, as a gulf system brings an additional bought of rain and storms Friday into Saturday. Thursday has minimal rain chances, I’m thinking just a few showers sneaking in at best as we are between disturbances.
TROPICS: Tropical Depression Eighteen is expected to become Tropical Storm Rafael at some point today. As it approaches Cuba, it is expected to strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane. The good news for us here in the U.S. is that this system will encounter hurricane busting environmental factors (increased wind shear, cooler ocean temps, drier air) in the Gulf of Mexico and cause Rafael to weaken before making landfall somewhere along the gulf coast.
LOCAL IMPACTS: While the storm will weaken as it approaches landfall, it still looks it will bring heightened rain & storm chances to the Tennessee Valley Friday and Saturday, which is reflected in our forecast. Anything else…maybe a slight breeze from time to time. That is the extent of local impacts as the forecast stands.
While yes, we have a bit of a gloomy and unsettled week ahead in terms of weather, we do NOT have a severe weather threat and this rain is much needed as we are still dry here in the TN Valley. Temps will stay in the 70s this week, with a bit of a cool down as the tropical moisture moves in for the first part of the weekend.
