All eyes on Gulf

Local residents can expect thunderstorms and rain through Thursday, officials said Monday.

“A complicated mix of a low pressure system over the northwest Gulf, another low pressure system advancing northward across the central Gulf, and a river of abundant tropical moisture flowing into the area will result in a number of impacts for our area,” Covington County EMA director Susan Harris said.

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a low pressure system advancing across the central Gulf that currently has a 30 percent chance of tropical development.

Harris said determining where the heaviest rainfall amounts will fall presents a challenge.

“Our greatest concern for flooding through this evening will be along coastal Alabama and the Florida panhandle,” she said Monday. “Widespread 6-plus inches has fallen over a large portion of the area, especially along and south of I-10.”

Harris said forecasters were predicting that heavy rains would stay to the east of the I-65 corridor.

“The threat for flooding over the inland counties will be much more isolated in nature,” she said.

There’s a 60 percent chance of rain today, but that chance decreases to 30 percent tonight.

Wednesday brings a 40 percent chance, which dwindles to 20 percent Wednesday night and Thursday.