Good Evening,
Today marked our third straight day of 90° temperatures here in Lafayette. Today’s high temperature of 92° was just 3° shy of the day’s record temperature of 95° set back in 1934. After reaching 96° yesterday, today’s slightly “cooler” conditions were likely due to the added cloud cover that the region received ahead of our next round of rainfall.
However, simply calling Tropical Depression Alberto “our next round of rainfall” is a bit of an understatement. The tropical system has already dumped more than 6” of total precipitation across parts of Florida and Alabama and will continue to pack quite a punch as it makes its way northward.
The once subtropical storm is currently centralized over West Central Tennessee and will continue on its way northward on what looks like a collision course with Greater Lafayette. In fact, Alberto’s current track places it passing almost directly overhead tomorrow afternoon and evening.
Our latest model data suggests that some parts of the region could see upwards of 1.50” of total rainfall during Wednesday afternoon and evening! Locally heavier rainfall amounts near 2.50” are a possibility in some spots.
In addition to the anticipated torrential rains Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center of America has placed a good portion of our easternmost counties under a Marginal Risk for Severe Weather. For tomorrow afternoon and evening. According to the SPC, “a few cells may contain weak rotation, suggesting a marginal wind or brief/weak tornado threat.”