Anyone heading out to Pensacola Beach on Thursday for the Blue Angels practice show can expect a hot day on the beach with the added chance of thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service office in Mobile, Alabama, is forecasting a 40% chance of rain at the 2 p.m. showtime on Thursday, and the 88-degree temperature will feel like 100 degrees with the humidity.
The Blue Angels are scheduled to fly a practice show at 2 p.m. on what is traditionally the best opportunity to see the team’s show with the least amount of hassle during the Red, White and Blues Week at Pensacola Beach. While crowds have continued to grow for the practice show – and Wednesday’s show was reportedly the largest crowd in recent history of the Breakfast with the Blues flyover – it’s still a less crowded day than Friday and Saturday.
Beachgoers on Thursday can expect a typical summer day on the beach with rain chances in the 20% range for the morning. By noon the rain chances rise to 40% and if there is rain, there’s a 50% chance the storm will produce lightning and thunder.
Along with the chance of rain at showtime, the weather service forecast that about 23% of the sky will be covered in clouds and that rises to 39% by 3 p.m.
The high temperature at Pensacola Beach is expected to be 89 degrees. Anyone heading out early can expect temperatures in the low 80s, but they will rise to 87 by noon with heat indexes in the 90s and rising to 100 degrees by 2 p.m.
Despite the 100-degree heat indexes, this weekend’s Blue Angels show could be cooler than previous years, which have come with heat advisories from the Weather Service, which are only triggered if the heat index goes above 108 degrees. At this point, the weather service said it’s not expecting to issue heat advisories over the weekend.
The surf should be good for swimmers as well as the Weather Service said it was expecting a low rip current risk through the remainder of the weekend, with the exception of Thursday night when the risk is expected to be in the moderate category. Usually with a low risk of rip currents, Pensacola Beach Lifeguards fly a green flag on the beach.
Friday could be the worst weather day for the Pensacola Beach Air Show
Thunderstorms are likely on Friday with a 70% chance of rain for the entire day. The Weather Service’s hourly forecast for Pensacola Beach on Friday is calling for a 57% chance of rain at the Blue Angels showtime at 2 p.m.
Saturday’s forecast looks similar to Thursday’s with a 40% chance of rain at 2 p.m. and a temperature of 88 degrees.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Chance of thunderstorms for first day of Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show
Reporting by Jim Little, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
