SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The second half of this week will keep the theme of warmer temperatures and higher humidity in the area.

Wednesday afternoon was characterized by warm and humid weather, with temperatures climbing to the upper 80s and nearly reaching 90°. While some isolated downpours occurred, most of the area stayed dry.

On Thursday morning, temperatures are expected to begin in the mid-60s inland and around 70 near the coast. The skies will start off partly cloudy and clear up more overnight.

From Thursday through Saturday, conditions will be similar, as warm and humid afternoons are accompanied by a mix of clouds and sunshine. Highs will reach the upper 80s to around 90°, with heat index values occasionally touching the lower 90s. A few showers might develop during the heat of the day, but widespread rain is not anticipated.

The chance of rain remains sparse until the weekend. However, a shift in weather patterns will occur on Sunday with a cold front entering the area. This will bring about a 30% chance of rain each day from Sunday into early next week.

The tropics have become active again as Tropical Storm Gabrielle emerged from a tropical depression at 5 AM and strengthened into a tropical storm by 11 AM. Positioned well east of the Caribbean, it is moving northwest. The storm is somewhat uneven, with most of its thunderstorms occurring away from the center.

Gabrielle is expected to continue moving northwest before veering northward. As wind shear decreases in the days ahead, the storm may intensify slowly, possibly becoming the next hurricane of the season. It poses no threat to the US but could approach Bermuda closely next week.

Two other tropical waves have a low chance of developing into a depression or named storm over the next seven days. The lead disturbance is located near the Cabo Verde Islands with a 10% chance of developing, while the second disturbance is moving off the coast of Africa over the next day or so and has 20% odds.

Both areas to watch will slowly move westward across the Atlantic but they will also have dry air and Saharan Dust to contend with in Gabrielle’s wake.

There continues to be no tropical threats for the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry.