SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The hot and humid conditions that we have been experiencing through the week continued for Friday afternoon.

Heat index vales at times spiked to about 110°F for several locations. Actual highs topped out in the mid to upper 90s.

A few strong storms developed in the evening that produced breezy and gusty wind along with very heavy rain. There were flooding concerns in Effingham and inland Bryan County. 

A LOOK AHEAD

More rain and thunderstorms are expected over the weekend. The bulk of rain and storms will be on Saturday.

Temperatures will still  make it into the mid 90s for most locations which will provide plenty of energy to fuel storms.

Some storms may be strong with gusty wind and frequent lightning. Heavy rain may lead to localized flooding concerns.

Heat index values will be over 105°F before scattered storms develop. Heat alerts may be issued again by the National Weather Service.

While storms are possible again on Sunday, a drier patter is expected to settle in. Sunday’s highs will reach the low to mid 90s. The drier pattern will continue through the first part of next week.

 A disturbance will swing though the southeast late in the week and it will help to increase storm chances for Thursday and Friday. 

TRACKING THE TROPICS

Tropical storm Erin strengthened into a hurricane with the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

As of 11 p.m., Hurricane Erin has sustained wind now at 100 mph with gusts of 120 mph making it a Cat. 2 storm. This storm is showing clear signs of strengthening with a well-defined eye appearing within the last several of hours on inferred satellite imagery.

Erin is forecast to continue strengthening over the coming days. Major hurricane status (Cat. 3 or stronger) is expected to be achieved by Saturday. Current intensity modeling indicates that Erin may become as strong as a Cat. 4 with sustained wind upwards of 145 mph by Sunday.

The projected path remains similar to what we have been expecting over the past several days with this system making a turn to the north before approaching the Bahamas late this weekend.

Erin will pass about 500 miles off of the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. The only impacts expected for most of the east coast of the U.S. is dangerously high surf and a high risk of rip currents. No other direct impacts are expected at this time.