Today: Tropical Storm Nicole, formerly Hurricane Nicole which made landfall in Florida earlier this week, will strike our area over the course of the day today. As we near the end of hurricane season, it is unusual at this point of the year to see hurricanes take the path Nicole took, through the Bahamas and up the east coast of Florida. Showers will begin around dawn and continue throughout the day, with a chance for isolated to scattered thunderstorms potentially in the late morning and early afternoon. Temperatures will remain near the low 60s throughout the day, with wind remaining near 10 mph. Accumulated rainfall is only forecasted to be around an inch in our area, compared to higher totals further west. All in all, a dreary end to the week.
Tonight: The potential for severe thunderstorms and damaging winds reaches its peak tonight. There is a high degree of uncertainty with this forecast, however, and it is hard to predict just how severe and widespread these storms may be. Regardless, severe thunderstorms with a potential for damaging winds are possible tonight, so it is recommended to keep your Friday night activities indoors.
Tomorrow (Saturday): Nicole brings in tow a cold front behind her, with temperatures dropping throughout the day Saturday. By dawn, showers should have cleared up from the remnants of Nicole, but wind gusts will be strong throughout the morning, maximizing at around 25-30 mph. Temperatures may drop all the way to the 30s by nightfall, with the low forecasted to be in the lower 40s at most. It will be chilly, but a nicer day than Friday.
A Look Ahead: Bundle up because it’s about to get cold! After Saturday’s cooling, it just keeps getting colder Sunday into Monday, and highs will remain in the mid to upper 40s with lows in the high 20s or low 30s for the rest of the week. As this high pressure cold front system moves in, however, skies should be clear and dry for the early portions of the workweek, with a lower pressure system moving in by midweek.
(Courtesy: National Digital Forecast Database)