SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Friday was a hot and then stormy day, just as expected.

Afternoon highs were in the mid to upper 90s with hotter heat index values. The extra heat helped a few strong and severe storms to develop in the early evening hours.

A severe warned storm over Richmond Hill possibly produced a microburst which led to some extensive tree damage in the Piercefield neighborhood. A microburst is a column of quickly sinking air in a thunderstorm which can producing damaging wind gusts at the surface.

Some microbursts can produce winds in excess of 100 mph. Richmond Hill likely had wind speeds in excess of 50 or 60 mph with Friday’s storm.

A LOOK AHEAD

A cold front is slowly moving into the southeast Friday evening. It will lead to more widespread rain and thunderstorms over the weekend.

Both Saturday and Sunday will also feature below-normal highs as a result of the frontal boundary and the high rain chances.

Rainfall totals will be 2-4″ across much of the area. Some locations may have higher amounts. There is a risk for flash flooding in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry especially in spots with poor drainage.

If you are caught in any of these intense downpours use caution since to there may be ponding on the roads and reduced visibility. Afternoon highs on Saturday and Sunday will be in the mid to upper 80s.

Rain chances will begin to back off starting on Monday. However, scattered showers and storms are expected Monday through Friday. Afternoon highs will remain below normal in the mid and upper 80s to lower 90s.

The normal or average high for the first week of Augusts is 92°F.

TRACKING THE TROPICS

There are currently no areas of concern that the National Hurricane Center is monitoring for potential tropical development. We may have to watch the northern Gulf or the Atlantic just off of the southeastern U.S. coast for some slow development next week.

Stalled frontal boundaries are often places where tropical depressions or tropical storms can develop. There currently is no threat to the U.S. at this time.

August is normally when we begin to see the tropical Atlantic start to become more active based the number of tropical systems.