textproduct: Mobile/Pensacola

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 655 PM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

- A HIGH risk of rip currents continues through the remainder of the weekend for coastal Alabama and northwest Florida beaches.

- Next chance for meaningful rain will accompany a cold front tonight and Sunday, but it will not be a drought-busting rain.

- A few rounds of small craft advisory-level conditions (gusts near gale-force) are likely over the Gulf and local bays/sounds Sunday night through much of next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 240 PM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

Upper ridging over the southeast U.S. pushes to the east as the axis of an upper trough with an embedded cutoff low pressure area centered over Minnesota approaches the Mississippi River. This trough will move eastward and and broaden over the eastern U.S. by Sunday morning. With deep southwesterly flow aloft, atmospheric moisture will continue to slowly advect back into the local area through tonight, with PWATs maximizing around 1.5-1.7 inches by Sunday morning. A surface low pressure area across the western Great Lakes will lifts northeastward into southeastern Canada tonight into Sunday. An associated cold front approaching from the northwest this evening will slowly pass through our area after midnight tonight through Sunday afternoon. This front will bring numerous showers and a chance of general thunderstorms from this evening through Sunday afternoon. A few lingering showers and storms early Sunday evening over coastal Florida will then push out over the Gulf, but additional isolated showers are possible along the coast on Monday as an upper level impulse on the backside of the main trough moves east over the Deep South. General rainfall amounts are expected to now range from 0.7 to 1.5 inches. Gusty northerly winds are likely in the wake of the front on Monday. This front will also usher in a cooler and drier airmass as strong surface high pressure builds in from the northwest with high temperatures on Monday only ranging from 68-73 degrees. The coldest temperatures through the period will occur Monday night with lows ranging from 47 to 52 degrees inland, with middle 50s along the coast.

Beach Forecast: A HIGH risk of rip currents will persist through Sunday afternoon, followed by a MODERATE risk Sunday evening and then a LOW Monday and Tuesday due to northerly winds. A HIGH risk of rip currents will return by midweek due to a strong persistent easterly wind fetch over the Gulf. Be sure to continue to swim near lifeguards. /22

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 655 PM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

VFR conditions will steadily become MVFR as a front approaches from the northwest. Rain will slowly move from northwest to southeast across the area leading to reduced ceilings and visibilities. IFR to LIFR conditions will be possible for majority of the area. Best rain chances look to occur after midnight through the morning hours before conditions slowly return to MVFR during the afternoon as the front slowly pushes offshore. Winds will be southerly tonight before quickly turning northwesterly behind the front. BB-8

MARINE

Issued at 330 PM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

A Small Craft Advisory is now in effect for Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound, and the Gulf Waters out to 60nm starting at 7pm Sunday due to strong offshore winds behind a cold front. The Small Craft Advisory may need to be expanded to include our smaller bays, but at a minimum should exercise caution for now. The Small Craft Advisory is set to expire from north to south from 10am through 4pm Monday, but may need to be extended in time for the Gulf waters through much of the week due to a strong persistent easterly wind fetch. /22

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Mobile 66 75 53 69 / 60 80 20 10 Pensacola 68 76 56 69 / 20 80 30 20 Destin 67 75 57 71 / 10 70 40 20 Evergreen 63 75 48 72 / 40 80 20 0 Waynesboro 59 71 49 68 / 80 70 10 0 Camden 60 70 48 68 / 70 80 10 0 Crestview 63 79 51 73 / 20 80 30 10

MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

AL...High Rip Current Risk through Sunday afternoon for ALZ265-266.

FL...High Rip Current Risk through Sunday afternoon for FLZ202-204- 206.

MS...None. GM...Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM Sunday to 10 AM CDT Monday for GMZ630>632.

Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM Sunday to 1 PM CDT Monday for GMZ650-655.

Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM Sunday to 4 PM CDT Monday for GMZ670-675.