Hanna, Ike, NASCAR and Football

After a solid week of 90+ heat, including a Thursday scorching 95 degrees in Charleston for the hottest of the summer, it is time for our weather to cool down a bit this weekend.

That cool down will come with minimal rain despite the proximity of two tropical weather systems, Gustav and Hanna. Too bad, since it has become very dry again now ten days since Fay passed.

LOCAL EVENTS

In Louisa, it is Septemberfest weekend as the “Best Little Festival” in Kentucky has set up shop. Ahead is a fun weekend of concerts, football (Septemberfest Bowl pits the Bulldogs with the perennial powerhouse Belfry Pirates) and an 11AM Saturday parade.

Right now, I expect only a shower or two to pass Lawrence County on Saturday when the sun will play a game of hide and go seek behind passing clouds. Highs in the 80s, not 90s, will feel muggy but not stifling!

Heidi Newfield and Aaron Holley highlight a great SATURDAY night of FREE country music entertainment on the downtown main stage!

By Sunday, the Bass Tourney on Yatesville Lake is sponsored by the Louisa Bass Club. A special kids fishing derby is slated for 1 PM .

Check out the full slate of activities at http://www.septemberfest.net/ .

Likewise, the World Strongman Competition in Charleston has begun a 9 day run this weekend. Any rain looks brief and not a factor for activities at Magic Island and Haddad Park. Highs will be sticky on Saturday and Sunday in the 80s

FOOTBALL FORECASTS

As for the college football gridiron, only Greenville North Carolina is in trouble weather-wise.

In Columbus, the Buckeyes sans Beenie Well, host the Bobcats. It may shower early on for tailgaters outside the ‘Shoe, but highs near 78 with a north breeze will feel good as the sun breaks thru the clouds for the Dotting of I on Script Ohio!.

The Herd is in Madison to play Big Ten bruiser Wisconsin. Kickoff at Camp Randall is slated for high noon. I expect a pleasant September day with highs near 70 and a liberal amount of sunshine.

Coach Brooks’ Cats are ready for their Saturday night game with Norfolk State. Looks like shirt sleeve weather with temperatures in the 70s!

WVU-ECU WEATHER

OK, you know Hanna is heading for a direct strike on Myrtle Beach. Looks like 75 mile per hour winds will disrupt communications for a time Saturday morning at the Grand Strand. Four to six inches of rain will also cause street flooding in Myrtle.

Golf courses will close as wind driven rains sweep through on Saturday morning. But the courses have a sandy soil base and I expect most courses to clean away the debris and be open for business by Sunday or Monday at the latest.

If you are slated for a vacation next week at Myrtle, get in there on Sunday, but only after checking with your hotel to make sure they have power. Most hotels will be fine.

After moving onshore between Georgetown and Calabash, Hanna will make a beeline for Greenville NC so WVU fans a nasty 18 hours is ahead with squally rains including torrential downpours and an accumulation of 3 to 6 inches. Winds will likely gust close to 30-50 miles per hour thru early afternoon.

Kickoff is slated for 4:30, when most of the rain will be gone and winds will be shifting from the E and SE in the AM, to W and NW during the game.

I expect Pat White to throw into a 25-40 mile per hour headwind in the first half that will settle to 20-30 in the second half.

NASCAR

The race for the Sprint Cup motors thru Richmond this weekend with the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 slated for Saturday night. Make that Sunday as I am 100% sure that the Saturday night race will be cancelled due to rain and wind. 100%.

Sunday in Richmond will be a great day for a late summer race with sunshine and highs in the mid to upper 80s. Load up with the sun block and I say Go Jeff Gordon.

I DON'T LIKE IKE

Hurricane Ike looks to be a big deal for South Florida by Monday with another major blow possible in the Gulf next week. Stay tuned to Josh for updates all weekend long!

One final note, Chris Bailey has a blog with all sorts of maps and weather cams for the weather junkie. Check it out!