James Spann: A few showers, storms for Alabama today; drier Wednesday

UNSETTLED WEATHER CONTINUES: The upper low that has been west of Alabama is moving slowly to the northeast today and will bring another round of showers and thunderstorms to the northern half of the state this afternoon and early tonight. The highest coverage will come from about 1 until 8 p.m., and like recent days a few strong storms will be possible, with small hail and gusty winds. Showers will be hard to find over south Alabama, where temperatures should reach the low 80s. Highs will be in the 70s elsewhere.

REST OF THE WEEK: As the upper low continues to move away, most of the state will be dry Wednesday with only isolated afternoon showers over the northern and eastern counties. The weather also begins to warm up, with highs in the 80s statewide.

Thursday will be mostly sunny, and on Friday most of the day will be dry and very warm. A cold front could push a few thunderstorms into the northern quarter of Alabama Friday night; some of those could be strong. Expect highs between 87 and 90 degrees.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: That surface front will become nearly stationary just north of Alabama, so we will mention some risk of random, scattered showers or storms over the northern third of the state Saturday and Sunday (mostly during the afternoons and evenings). It won’t be a washout at all, and nothing like the big rain we saw this past weekend. South Alabama will be dry both days, and afternoon temperatures will be mostly in the mid to upper 80s.

NEXT WEEK: Warm weather continues through the week with highs between 86 and 91 degrees. We will have a few days during the week with a risk of scattered afternoon and evening storms, but no sign for now of any really widespread rain or severe weather threats.

ON THIS DATE IN 1980: An F3 tornado ripped directly through the center of Kalamazoo, Michigan, killing five people, injuring 79, leaving 1,200 homeless and causing $50 million in damage.

ON THIS DATE IN 1995: An outbreak produced tornadoes extending from the Mississippi River near Burlington, Iowa, to the west of Bloomington, Illinois. Two violent tornadoes, each ranked at F4 intensity, were reported.

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