Good morning and happy Thursday! We're off to a cooler start today with temperatures mainly in the low or middle 50s (about 5-10 degrees lower than yesterday morning). Winds out of the northwest are working in drier and colder air to the Panhandle. They are sustained around 10-15 mph but are gusting to 20-25 mph along the coastline. It will be breezy throughout the day but overall nice. We're going to see plenty of blue sky and sunshine with temperatures topping out in the low-mid 70s.
The weather today will vary across the Panhandle thanks to a stalled front. High pressure is building behind a cold front, pushing the front to the southeast. However, an area of low pressure in the Gulf is providing an opposing force with winds pushing southeast to northwest. This clash of air masses is resulting in the frontal system stalling across our eastern areas of the Panhandle, resulting in scattered showers and storms.
Temperatures today will reach the mid-60s under a partly cloudy turning partly sunny sky. Winds will be out of the northeast at 5-10 mph. High pressure will build east through the week, working in some warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico. Temperatures are forecast to trend into the middle and upper 70s Wednesday through Friday with some areas inland reaching the low 80s Friday and Saturday.
While there may be moisture aloft, there is still relatively dry air at the surface. You may see a couple showers on radar today, but there's a good chance any rain will evaporate before it hits the ground (virga). There's a better chance for rainfall late Friday through Saturday though as moisture builds and a cold front approaches. Scattered light rainfall is expected. Rain will clear out Sunday and so will the clouds. The weekend, though, will feature colder air. Temperatures will reach only the mid-50s Saturday and Sunday.
Wet weather is on the way for the second half of the weekend as an area of low pressure works its way through the Southeast. The most widespread wet weather will come Monday as a cold front pushes through the Panhandle. The cold front will work through Monday morning, bringing breezy conditions and the best chance of rain across the area. A strong and possibly severe storm will be possible in the morning hours on Monday through the afternoon. Damaging wind gusts of 50+ mph will be the greatest threat. However, we can't completely rule out an isolated tornado.