AFDMOB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Mobile AL 1234 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1231 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 - HIGH rip current risk for coastal Alabama and northwest Florida beaches through Friday night. High surf with 4-6ft breakers are likely through Thursday. - Strong marine winds and high seas along with gusts to gale- force over the offshore waters continue until diminishing on Thursday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1129 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 A strong surface ridge over the southeastern to Mid Atlantic states begins to weaken later in the week resulting in an easterly to northeasterly surface flow over the forecast area gradually transitioning to a southeasterly flow this weekend. A shortwave trof currently oriented near/along the Sabine River valley continues across the forecast area tonight with a series of lesser shortwaves meanwhile progressing mainly across the marine area. These features look to be sufficient to allow for some isolated showers to develop mainly over the western Florida panhandle and coastal Alabama late this afternoon into the evening hours. Dry conditions are otherwise expected through Tuesday as an initially broad upper ridge builds into the region, then shifts off to the east ahead of an upper trof advancing across the Plains. Deep layer moisture improves along and west of I-65 on Wednesday which will allow for slight chance to chance pops to return to this portion. A High Surf Advisory remains in effect for the Alabama and western Florida panhandle beaches through Thursday for surf heights of 4-6 feet. A High Risk of rip currents is in effect through Friday night. Highs today will be in the mid to upper 70s then warm to the lower to mid 80s for Saturday through Wednesday, with a bit cooler temps near the coast. Lows tonight and Friday night range from the lower 50s well inland to the lower 60s at the coast, then gradually trend to milder values from around 60 to the mid 60s by Tuesday night. /29 && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1231 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 VFR flight category is expected to prevail throughout the rest of today into tonight and the day Thursday. Winds remain generally out of the east at 10 to 15 knots during the day gusting to near 20 knots. Tonight, winds relax somewhat inland but remain elevated near the coast at the TAF sites. Winds return areawide to around 10 to 15 knots gusting to 20 knots at times Thursday. MM/25 && .MARINE... Issued at 1129 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 Moderate to very strong easterly winds diminish on Thursday. A Gale Warning continues for the 20-60 nm portion until 7 am Thursday with a Small Craft Advisory otherwise in effect for the near shore waters, including the MS Sound and Southern Mobile Bay for a portion of the time. A Small Craft Advisory will be in effect for the open Gulf waters 7 am to 1 pm Thursday, then for the 20-60 nm portion until 7 pm Thursday before ending. A light to moderate easterly flow, occasionally stronger well offshore, follows for Thursday night into Friday, then transitions to a southeasterly flow for Saturday into Sunday. /29 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Mobile 56 78 57 81 / 10 0 0 0 Pensacola 58 77 61 77 / 20 0 0 0 Destin 57 76 59 76 / 20 0 0 0 Evergreen 49 78 50 81 / 20 0 0 0 Waynesboro 54 78 53 81 / 0 0 0 0 Camden 51 77 51 79 / 20 0 0 0 Crestview 51 79 51 82 / 20 0 0 0 && .MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...High Rip Current Risk through late Thursday night for ALZ265-266. High Surf Advisory until 1 AM CDT Friday for ALZ265-266. FL...High Rip Current Risk through late Thursday night for FLZ202-204- 206. High Surf Advisory until 1 AM CDT Friday for FLZ202-204-206. MS...None. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ632. Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ650-655. Gale Warning until 7 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ670-675. Small Craft Advisory from 7 AM to 7 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ670- 675. && $$ $$