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Another Round Of Storms Possible

National Weather Service Mobile

Monday’s storms in northwest Florida and south Alabama gave way to fair skies on Tuesday, which are now giving way to another round of storms for Wednesday.

The best rainfall, will be over the Panhandle, probably 2-3 inches, and 2-4 inches in some areas, says Eric Esbensen, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mobile.

“As everything races to the north and east, rainfall amounts will definitely subside,” Esbensen says. “This looks like it’s going to be a pretty progressive pattern, where everything moves through. We were thinking maybe a flood threat down in the Panhandle, but we kind of backed off on it.”

The system is a complex one, according to forecasters. A strong upper-level trough of low pressure is moving in from the west and combining with a warm front moving onshore, from the system that produced Monday’s stormy weather.

“We have enough dynamical force aloft to have a few, discreet, strong thunderstorms that could form near the coast or just offshore,” said Esbensen. “And then more transition inland during the later morning hours to the northeast of Mobile, and north of Pensacola.”

Residents in the affected region are being urged to monitor the weather, since there’s a chance that conditions may be ripe for a round of severe weather.

“The best threat for severe weather looks like anywhere after 8:30/9:00 a.m. when it starts heating up,” Esbensen said. “We could see a few super-cells with a few stronger thunderstorms and a few tornadoes or damaging straight-line winds [and] some large hail.”

Also look for possible localized flooding along the coast and rip currents in the Gulf of Mexico. Esbensen says as the day progresses, the upper-level trough approaching from the west will help push everything to the east-northeast and out of the area.

After the storms move out late Wednesday, fair weather moves back in, along with a strong cold front bringing cooler temperatures.

“We could have lows possibly in the mid-40s by Friday morning [and] Saturday morning,” said meteorologist Eric Esbensen. “[Highs] upper 60s to lower 70s Thursday, and more like lower 70s on Friday. As we get into the weekend, upper 70s and lower 80s by Sunday.”

Wednesday shapes up to be a normal school day in the Escambia County District. In Santa Rosa County, classes will also meet as scheduled, but field trips are cancelled. Other activities in both districts will depend on what weather does roll in.