Weekend Update

NOAA image of Tropical Depression 13 over the Gulf of Mexico this morning.

First off this morning a rather strong earthquake has rattled the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The magnitude 7.1 quake has prompted a tsunami advisory for Alaska.

Our weekend forecast looks unsettled but rather warm and humid. A warm front slowly drifted north of the region overnight with a few showers. Most of the day will be partly cloudy with temperatures near 27C. In southern Ontario the mercury will soar to mid-summer highs of 34C in Windsor where a humidex advisory is posted. More showers and storms are possible over the weekend but it will be dry most of the time. Temperatures will be warm near 29C for highs and 20C for lows. It will cool of on Labor Day Monday with a better chance of showers.

Tropical Depression 13: All eyes are on the Gulf of Mexico this morning where TD-13 is expected to become Tropical Storm Lee later today (once winds reach 39mph or greater). Winds are around 35mph, but that will not be the story with Lee. Very heavy tropical rains are expected in coastal Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Estimates are that 10-20 inches of rain could fall which would likely result in severe flooding. The area has experienced drought most of the summer, but that much rain over a weekend is just too much. This morning tropical storm warnings are posted between Sabine Pass, Texas and the Mississippi/Alabama border, including flood prone metro New Orleans. TD 13 is about 250 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Meanwhile Katia, over the open waters of the central Atlantic Ocean, has weakened slightly to a tropical storm with 70mph winds. Further strengthening is forecast and Katia could become a major hurricane early next week. While still very far from land, concern is growing once again for possible impacts along the east coast of Canada and the US.