Harvey Brings Heavy Rain and Spin-Up Tornado Threat Today.

TODAY: Harvey has weakened to a tropical depression as forecast, but its impacts on our area are much the same. Showers and a few embedded thunderstorms will develop after daybreak, and these could drop some heavy rainfall in spots, especially where multiple cells train over one area. In addition to the rainfall, winds will be somewhat strong today, with sustained winds in the 15-25 mph range, and a few gusts could hit or exceed 35 mph. This could be enough to knock down a few tree limbs. Also, with all of these showers and storms, a spin-up tornado threat will exist as well. As we have said over the past couple of days, this is one of those days to go about your business as normal, but have a way to receive warnings and be sure you are up to date on your tornado safety plan, just in case. The tornado threat will exist for most of the day. Once Harvey’s center of circulation starts to lift north of the area and our surface winds start veering more to the southwest, the tornado threat should wind down. High temperatures will be in the low 80s, and rain chances will be around 90% or higher.

TONIGHT: I’m hopeful the biggest issues will be winding down overnight, but some showers and perhaps a thunderstorm will still be possible. Lows in the low 70s. Rain chance will be around 50%.

FRIDAY: As Harvey’s circulation center lifts north into Tennessee, some wraparound moisture could bring us a stray shower or two, especially north of US-82 and in the early morning hours. Temperatures will climb into the lower 80s. We will keep the rain chance at 30%, but High School Football games should be dry.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND: The holiday weekend looks great. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s, with partly cloudy skies. We keep rain chances off the board Saturday through Labor Day.

NEXT TUE/WED: Another cool front moves through in the middle of the work week next week bringing more rain. Highs in the low to mid 80s, with rain chances in the 30-40% range.