Clear skies and a cool 58 degrees greeted Birmingham early Wednesday, but the Magic City is about to squeeze in two more hot, dry days before a tropical system brings a serious weekend weather turn. The forecast calls for sunshine Wednesday and Thursday, with highs of 86 and 89 and overnight lows near 57 and 62.
Friday stays mostly sunny and warm near 86, though a few showers could develop after 1 p.m. Rain becomes likely Friday night, then Saturday brings a 40% chance of rain and a high near 81.
Tropical System Raises Flooding And Wind Concerns
The National Weather Service office in Birmingham says Tropical Depression 9 is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before reaching the northern Gulf Coast on Friday evening. For Central Alabama, forecasters say the biggest concerns are heavy rain that could trigger flash flooding and gusty winds capable of downing trees and causing power outages, while tropical tornado potential remains less certain.
Saturday's forecast currently carries a 40% chance of rain, with breezy conditions and a 60% to 75% chance of gusts above 30 mph. Saturday night has a 70% chance of precipitation.
The latest outlook marks a substantial escalation from the earlier Birmingham forecast, which had already pointed to a stormy weekend but did not include the current hurricane-strength outlook. No watches or warnings are currently listed for Birmingham, but the storm's timing and track could still shift.
Dry Weather Returns Next Week
Sunday remains unsettled, with rain showers likely, partly sunny skies and a high near 78. Monday is forecast to be partly sunny with a high near 82, followed by a high in the lower to middle 90s Tuesday and in the middle 80s Friday.
Residents can use Wednesday and Thursday to handle outdoor plans and secure loose items before the rain arrives. With flooding and power outages among the main concerns, checking updated forecasts before Friday night will be especially important.
