No Major Changes

Here's the forecast for August fourth

No major pattern changes are in the forecast through Thursday as big east to west differences continue.

The Plateau will experience medium to high chances for showers and a few storms each day while areas along and west of I-65 will have very low rain chances through Thursday.

Temperatures will be near normal area-wide.

The high rain chances in our eastern counties are the result of an upper level low pressure system located over north GA.

Over the next couple of days, the low pressure will gradually open up as it lifts northward into the prevailing cyclonic flow over the Ohio Valley.

This will keep an axis of deep moisture over our eastern counties.

There will be enough instability for a few storms in the heat of the daytime hours, but conditions will not be favorable for severe weather.

Much drier air in place over our western counties will keep rain chances less than 30 percent.

Otherwise, clearing skies at night will bring favorable fog conditions, especially across the southeast half of our area.

LONG TERM FORECAST

As we head into the weekend, the upper level low will get swept away and our wx will be influenced by a Bermuda high along with a series of weak disturbances.

This pattern will bring slightly warmer and more humid conditions along with area-wide chances for scattered showers and storms.

Dew points will climb into the 70s, pushing afternoon heat index values over 100, except for the Plateau.

CAPE values will increase helping to fuel storms, but shear and low level forcing will be generally weak.

This will keep the severe threat low, but heavy rain will be likely with any thunderstorms.

We won`t see any major changes in the weather pattern as we head into early next week.

The upper level trough over the Great Lakes will weaken and that will allow a strong upper level ridge over the West to build east some.

This will push highs into the low to mid 90s with afternoon heat index values above 100.

Rain chances will come down some as the upper level ridge to our east flattens and pushes south but still could see a few afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

THE END!