Sunny, Cool Mornings This Week Along the Gulf Coast; Small Rain Chance Returns for Halloween

MOBILE, Ala. — The Gulf Coast is in for a stretch of classic fall weather this week, with plenty of sunshine, comfortable afternoons and cool mornings. Temperatures will slowly warm as the week goes on, and a small chance of showers returns just in time for Halloween on Saturday. At the beaches, however, rough surf and dangerous rip currents remain a serious concern.

Here is a day-by-day look at what to expect across southwest Alabama, northwest Florida and southeast Mississippi.

Monday morning: cool start, especially inland

Mostly clear skies and dry air overnight allowed temperatures to fall into the 50s across much of southwest Alabama and southeast Mississippi heading into Monday morning. A few inland communities were expected to dip into the upper 40s or lower 50s.

Closer to the coast, readings stayed a little milder, generally in the upper 50s to lower 60s. Pensacola and other coastal communities also had a steady northeast breeze overnight.

Monday and Tuesday: sunny and comfortable

The workweek begins with pleasant fall weather. High pressure will keep the area dry, with mostly sunny skies and afternoon highs in the middle to upper 70s. A few inland spots could approach 80 degrees.

Tuesday morning will feature conditions similar to Monday’s, with lows mostly in the 50s and some upper 40s possible farther inland. Afternoon temperatures Tuesday will rebound into the upper 70s and lower 80s.

Northeast winds will continue Monday at about 5 to 10 mph inland. It will be breezier near the beaches, where occasional gusts of 15 to 20 mph are possible.

The weather should cooperate nicely for outdoor plans. Sunset in Mobile is around 6:10 p.m., and temperatures will cool fairly quickly after dark, falling through the 60s during the evening.

Wednesday through Friday: gradual warming

The dry pattern holds through the middle and end of the week. Expect mostly sunny to sunny skies Wednesday and Thursday, with little change in the overall pattern.

• Highs: Climbing into the lower 80s across much of the region; some inland communities could reach the middle 80s by Friday.
• Lows: Wednesday morning will still see some readings in the 50s, but lows will trend upward Thursday and Friday as moisture slowly returns to the Gulf Coast.
• Rain: Chances remain very limited through Friday.

That makes for a generally favorable forecast for outdoor events, high school football and fall festivals throughout the workweek.

Halloween weekend: small chance of showers

The next chance of rain arrives this weekend, as an upper-level disturbance approaches the Gulf Coast and moisture gradually increases across the region.

Saturday is Halloween. While most of the day currently looks dry, a few isolated showers will be possible. Rain chances are generally around 20% to 30%, with the best chance early on across western parts of the region, including southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama.

This does not look like a widespread rain event based on the current forecast, but anyone planning outdoor Halloween activities or trick-or-treating should keep an eye on updates during the week.

• Saturday afternoon highs: Upper 70s to lower 80s, warm for late October
• Saturday evening: Temperatures settling into the 60s, with slightly higher humidity than recent days
• Sunday: Rain chances could increase further as more moisture and disturbances move through

There is still some uncertainty about the coverage and timing of weekend showers. Forecasters will continue fine-tuning the outlook as Halloween approaches.

Halloween night tips

With warm temperatures and a chance of a passing shower, families heading out for trick-or-treating may want to:

• Plan costumes that work in warm, slightly humid weather and bring water.
• Pack a light rain jacket or umbrella in case a shower pops up.
• Carry flashlights or glow sticks and add reflective tape to costumes, since sunset will come around 6 p.m.
• Check the forecast Saturday afternoon before heading out.

Beach and marine: high rip current risk

Although the weather will be pleasant on land, conditions at area beaches and offshore will be much more hazardous.

A High Risk of rip currents is in effect through Monday afternoon for the Alabama and northwest Florida beaches. Northeast winds are producing rough surf of about 3 to 4 feet.

The rip current risk is expected to drop to Moderate on Tuesday and Wednesday before possibly returning to High on Thursday as winds strengthen again.

Rip currents can quickly pull swimmers away from shore, even on a sunny, calm-looking day. Beachgoers should stay out of the Gulf when the risk is high and follow all posted beach flags and lifeguard instructions.

Know the beach flags

• Double red: Water closed to the public
• Red: High hazard — high surf and/or strong currents
• Yellow: Medium hazard — moderate surf and/or currents
• Green: Low hazard — calm conditions, but still use caution
• Purple: Dangerous marine life present

If you are caught in a rip current

• Stay calm and do not fight the current.
• Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, then swim back at an angle.
• If you cannot escape, float or tread water and wave or call for help.
• If you see someone in trouble, alert a lifeguard or call 911 rather than going in after them without a flotation device.

Boaters: small craft advisory

Boaters should also use caution. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for Gulf waters through 1 p.m. Monday, with moderate to strong northeast winds creating hazardous conditions for smaller vessels. Winds may strengthen again by midweek, possibly requiring more marine advisories from Wednesday through Friday.

Anyone heading offshore should check the latest marine forecast from the National Weather Service before leaving the dock.

Forecast at a glance

• Monday: Mostly sunny; highs mid to upper 70s; northeast winds 5–10 mph inland, gusts 15–20 mph near the coast
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny; cool morning in the 50s; highs upper 70s to lower 80s
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny to sunny; lows some 50s; highs near 80 to lower 80s
• Thursday: Sunny; lows warming; highs lower 80s
• Friday: Sunny and warmer; highs lower to mid 80s inland
• Saturday (Halloween): Mostly dry with isolated showers possible, 20%–30%; highs upper 70s to lower 80s; evening in the 60s
• Sunday: Rain chances may increase

Stay with South Alabama News for forecast updates as the Halloween weekend approaches.