textproduct: Mobile/Pensacola

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 645 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

- Sub-freezing temperatures are once again expected across the region late tonight and into Wednesday morning, with the exception of the immediate coast.

- Temperatures will quickly warmup through the week and into the upcoming weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 211 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Northwesterly flow aloft will continue through much of the period as our local area remains sandwiched between upper-level troughing over the eastern US and strong upper ridging over the western US. At the surface, high pressure currently centered over the Lower Mississippi River Valley will shift eastward tonight and into tomorrow, eventually settling over the northern Gulf. With the high in place, along with the dry northwesterly flow pattern aloft, no rain is expected through the remainder of the week and into the weekend.

Temperatures over the next 36 hours will remain well below average for this time of year. In fact, KMOB could get very close, or may even break, the daily record low tomorrow morning (March 18th record low: 32). NBM probabilities give a roughly 30-40% chance of meeting or breaking this record low. However, considering that guidance tends to have a warm bias in these extremely efficient radiational cooling setups (like tonight), I would argue that we probably have a higher chance than what the NBM is suggesting. Otherwise, we are once again anticipating a widespread freeze across all areas except for the immediate coastline, with temperatures plummeting into the upper 20s to low 30s inland and the mid 30s along the coast. Being that we are well into our growing season now thanks to the recent stretch of warm weather, went ahead and issued another Freeze Warning for all zones north of the immediate coast. Expect areas to remain below freezing for roughly 5-8 hours tonight. This cold snap is very short-lived, as temperatures will quickly warm through the period. Highs by the weekend will reach the low to mid 80s (upper 70s along the coast) and lows will only drop into the upper 50s to low 60s. A Low Risk of rip currents continues through the week and into the upcoming weekend. /96

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 645 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Low to mid-level plumes of smoke from wildfire and prescribed burning activity will occur over much of the area this evening. VFR flight categories will persist through the Wednesday afternoon with a gradual increase and lowering of high level clouds. Calm to light north to northeast winds tonight will become southeasterly 5-10 knots along the coast Wednesday afternoon, but remain light and variable inland areas. /22

MARINE

Issued at 211 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Light to moderate offshore flow will continue through Wednesday. Winds will become light and rather variable Wednesday night into Thursday. A light to moderate westerly to southwesterly flow becomes prevalent on Friday, lingering into the upcoming weekend. /96

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Mobile 31 61 40 72 / 0 0 0 0 Pensacola 36 59 43 68 / 0 0 0 0 Destin 40 60 45 67 / 0 0 0 0 Evergreen 30 63 33 74 / 0 0 0 0 Waynesboro 31 62 37 72 / 0 0 0 0 Camden 30 60 35 71 / 0 0 0 0 Crestview 28 62 34 72 / 0 0 0 0

MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

AL...Freeze Warning from 1 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday for ALZ051>060- 261>264.

FL...Freeze Warning from 1 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday for FLZ201-203- 205.

MS...Freeze Warning from 1 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday for MSZ067-075- 076-078-079.

GM...None.