James Spann: Alabama can expect spotty showers as temperatures creep higher

RADAR CHECK: A few isolated showers and thunderstorms are across Alabama this afternoon; a few spots are getting heavy rain, but most communities are dry with a partly to mostly sunny sky. Temperatures are mostly in the upper 80s and low 90s. Showers will fade quickly after sunset.

Alabama’s weather won’t change much through Saturday. Partly sunny, warm, humid days with just a few isolated showers around, mostly during the afternoon and evening hours. The chance of any one specific location seeing rain tomorrow and Saturday is 10-20%, mostly during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs will stay in the 86-92 degree range for most of the state.

Global models suggest the air will be a little more unstable by Sunday with an increase in the number of scattered showers and thunderstorms, but it still won’t rain everywhere.

NEXT WEEK: A very standard summer pattern sets up across the Deep South. An upper ridge will be in place; expect hot, humid days with the risk of a pop-up afternoon shower or storm daily. Highs will be very close to 90 degrees … See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: Tropical Storm Dexter has become post-tropical over the North Atlantic, far from land.

Elsewhere, a non-tropical area of low pressure is expected to form over the next day or two, a few hundred miles offshore of North Carolina. Some tropical or subtropical development is possible this weekend while the system moves northeastward over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, off the east coast of the United States. By early next week, the low is expected to reach colder water and more hostile conditions, ending its chance for tropical or subtropical development. NHC has dropped the chance of development with this feature to 20%; it is no threat to land.

And, a tropical wave over the central tropical Atlantic is producing disorganized shower activity. Environmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive for gradual development in a few days, and a tropical depression could form late this weekend or early next week while the system moves west-northwestward to northwestward across the central tropical and subtropical Atlantic. NHC gives this a 60% chance of development; global models suggest it will turn north into the open Atlantic and is no threat to land.

The rest of the Atlantic basin, including the Gulf, is quiet. No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf for at least the next seven days.

ON THIS DATE IN 1924: A tornado caused estimated F4 damage moved southeast from south of Osseo to Black River Falls, Wisconsin. One person was killed as a home was leveled and a boy was killed running to the storm cellar near the start of the path. Two people died as farm homes were swept away near the northeast edge of Black River Falls.

ON THIS DATE IN 1980: Hurricane Allen bottomed out at 899 millibars (26.55 inches of mercury) while moving through the Yucatan Channel in the southeastern part of the Gulf of America. Allen was the second lowest pressure ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere up to that time. Allen’s winds at the time were sustained at 190 mph.

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.com.