James Spann: A few spotty showers around Alabama through mid-week

A FEW SHOWERS LATER TODAY: Expect highs in the 80s across Alabama on this Labor Day, and we will mention the chance of a few spotty showers, mainly over the northern counties, this afternoon and early tonight. The chance of any one spot seeing rain is only around 20-25%.

The weather won’t change much through mid-week. Partly sunny, warm days with a few scattered showers over the northern half of the state. A cold front will pass through on Thursday with potential for a few showers (again mostly over North and Central Alabama).

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: A surge of dry air will roll into the Deep South, meaning mostly sunny days and fair, pleasant nights. While afternoon highs will be close to 90 on Friday and Saturday, humidity levels will be fairly low for early September, temperatures drop into the 60s at night. A second surge of drier air arrives Sunday with highs dropping into the 80s.

The weather looks relatively quiet next week with no sign of any major, widespread rain event.

TROPICS: A tropical wave located over the far eastern tropical Atlantic is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for slow development of this system, and a tropical depression could form late this week or next weekend. This system is expected to move westward to west-northwestward at around 15 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic throughout the week.

Most global model ensemble members show this system gaining latitude and turning north well before reaching the U.S. … but it is still too early to know the final destination or intensity (if the wave develops at all). NHC gives it a 40% chance of development.

No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf for at least the next 7-10 days.

ON THIS DATE IN 1859: The “Carrington Event” peaked; it was the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history. It created strong auroral displays that were reported globally and caused sparking and even fires in telegraph stations. Auroras were seen around the world in the northern and southern hemispheres. The aurora borealis over the Rocky Mountains in the United States was so bright that the glow woke gold miners, who were reported to have begun to prepare breakfast because they thought it was morning.

Today, such a storm could severely damage satellites, disable communications by telephone, radio, and TV, and cause electrical blackouts over whole continents. It could take weeks or longer to fix the damage. Solar storms like the one in 1859 happen only about every 500 years.

For more weather news and information from Jame Spann and his team, visit the Alabama Weather Network.