Storm Team 3: Expect Rain and Severe Storms Later This Week; Tropical Activity Likely in the Atlantic

SAVANNAH, Ga () — The very warm and humid pattern that we have been in continued for Tuesday. Afternoon highs were in the low to even mid 90s for a few locations.

More of this kind of weather is in the local forecast for Wednesday. However, showers and storms become more likely later in the week.

The long-range forecast for next week is depended on the development of tropical wave Invest-94L in the western Atlantic.

A LOOK AHEAD

Wednesday morning will start out warm and humid with low temperatures in the lower 70s. A partly to mostly sunny sky will help temperatures to quickly warm into the mid and upper 80s before lunchtime.

Highs will top out in the lower 90s for most locations. Elevated humidity levels will make heat index values feel as hot as the mid 90s at times.

A few isolated passing showers are possible in the later afternoon.

Shower and storm chances will become higher on Thursday ahead of a cold font. This same system has been producing strong and severe storms in the mid-section of the country.

It will be weakening as it moves toward the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry. However, this frontal boundary will still bring a low-end risk for strong to severe storms.

The primary concern at this time looks to be strong and damaging wind gusts late Thursday afternoon and into the evening. 

The approaching cold front will almost stall out over the region and will bring an elevate rain and storm chance on Friday and into Saturday.

A few storms may be strong with gusty wind and heavy rain, but organized severe weather is not expected right now. 

Temperatures over the weekend will be closer to normal in the mid 80s on both days.

Our long-range forecast will partly be dependent on potential tropical system development in the western Atlantic over the next several days.

TRACKING THE TROPICS

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor Hurricane Gabrielle along with two tropical waves for potentially becoming tropical depressions or storms over the next 5-7 days.

TROPICAL WAVE INVEST-93L

The first tropical wave is designated as Invest-93L is located about 670 miles East of the Lesser Antilles. It currently has a high (90%) chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm over the next 5-7 days.

Invest-93L is forecast to move northwest toward Bermuda where the environment will favor further organization and development. We expected the mid-latitude high pressure center over the North Atlantic to steer this system just to the west of Bermuda next week.

This will keep Invest-93L safely off the east coast of the U.S. posing no direct threats at this time.

TROPICAL WAVE INVEST-94L

Invest-94L is currently located over the U.S. Virgin Islands and is forecast to move northwesterly toward the Bahamas over the coming days. It currently has a high (70%) chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm withing the next 5-7 days.

Invest-94L is expected to be located just off of the coast of Georgia and South Carolina by the weekend and into early next week. A cold front that is forecast to move into the southeast over the weekend and should help to steer it away from the coast.

This means that some coastal impacts may be experienced next week depending on the path and strength of this system. There is no significant threat to the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry at this, but it is a forecast worth keeping an eye on. 

HURRICANE GABRIELLE

Hurricane Gabrielle remains a major hurricane as of 8 p.m. EDT with 125 mph sustained wind. It is moving east-northeast at 21 mph and is forecast to pass over the Azores as a weak hurricane later this week.

Hurricane watches have been issued for the Azores with impacts likely to be experienced late Thursday and into Friday. Gabrielle may impact Portugal and Spain as a weak tropical storm over the weekend.