After a stretch of stormy weather, Alabama is headed into a hotter, drier weekend — with some of the most intense summer heat yet to come next week. While scattered tropical downpours will still pop up this weekend, they will be far less widespread than in recent days, setting the stage for rising temperatures and potentially dangerous heat conditions.
Weekend Outlook: Fewer Storms, More Heat
- Saturday and Sunday will bring a mix of sun, clouds, and isolated tropical downpours.
- Storm activity will be more limited, making it noticeably hotter during the afternoons.
- Temperatures will climb into the low 90s, with heat index values approaching 100°F between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. both days.
- Rain-cooled areas will feel slightly more tolerable, but locations that remain dry will be significantly hotter.
Record Heat Expected Next Week
- Birmingham has yet to exceed 94°F this summer — but that’s likely to change.
- A “heat dome” or “ridge” is forecast to settle over Alabama, creating a prolonged and intense heat wave through next week.
- Little wind, intense sunshine, and scarce rain chances will contribute to dangerously high temperatures and humidity.
Heat alerts likely:
- Heat Advisory: Possible when heat index reaches 105°F or higher, or temperatures hit 100–105°F.
- Excessive Heat Warning: Issued if the heat index tops 110°F or the air temperature exceeds 105°F.
Rain Relief Will Be Rare
While the heat ridge won’t completely block out rain chances, most areas will stay dry next week. The few daily thunderstorms that do form will be isolated and unlikely to provide meaningful relief from the heat.
Watching the Tropics
A large tropical disturbance that moved inland from the Gulf on Friday is now tracking toward the Carolinas.
By Monday or Tuesday, the system is expected to emerge over the Atlantic and potentially circle back into the Gulf later in the week.
While conditions are not ideal for storm development, forecasters aren’t ruling out the possibility of a tropical depression or weak tropical storm forming over the Gulf of Mexico by the end of next week.
