SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Wednesday certainly was pretty nice and comfortable. Afternoon highs were again in the mid and upper 80s for most locations.

A few communities in the southwestern part of the area were able to reach the lower 90s.

Dry air that has been flowing into the region from the North kept the heat index or feels like temperatures very close to the actual temperatures. 

LOOKING AHEAD

Some moisture will begin to return to the region with an onshore flow setting up for Thursday and Friday. A few isolated showers are possible on Thursday and Friday.

Afternoon highs both days will top out in the mid to upper 80s. Morning lows will be in the mid to upper 60s.

Higher rain chances are expected for Labor Day weekend as a system moves in from the west. Periods of heavy rain are possible Saturday through Labor Day Monday.

While rain chances will be elevated, we do not expect widespread flooding issues like we had last Friday and Saturday. Rainfall totals all three days should add up to about 1-2″ across much of the area. Locally higher amounts are possible though.

Afternoon highs over the weekend will top out in just the upper 70s to lower 80s for most locations.

Next week will continue to feature below-normal afternoon highs with slightly lower rain chances.

Long-range guidance indicates that below-normal temperatures are also expected as we look beyond the seven-day forecast into early September. 

TRACKING THE TROPICS

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor Tropical Storm Fernand in the North Atlantic Ocean. Fernand has 50 mph sustained wind with gusts as high as 65 mph as of 5 p.m. EDT.

It is located about 650 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada. This system is expected to transition into a post-tropical low over the next couple of days.

There is no threat to the U.S. or any land at this time.

Elsewhere in the tropics, no further development is expected within the next five-seven days. There are a few tropical waves located in the intertropical convergence zone now, but all are weak and disorganized.

None of the global forecast models are picking up on any development within the next week to week and a half.

This is all good news for the Atlantic basin as we approach the statistical peak of hurricane activity on September 10.