James Spann: Alabama expected to stay dry through next week with cooler nights taking hold

RADAR CHECK: We actually have a few sprinkles on radar this afternoon over Barbour County in Southeast Alabama, but the rest of the state is dry with a good supply of sunshine. Tonight will be fair and cool with lows mostly in the 50s.

Showers will be basically impossible to find across Alabama over the weekend, and through all of next week as drought conditions continue to intensify. Nights will be cooler; some of the cooler spots over North Alabama could reach the upper 40s early tomorrow and Sunday morning. Afternoon highs will be in the 77–84-degree range through Sunday.

Afternoons will be warm next week with highs in the 80s. See the video briefing for maps, graphics and more details.

DROUGHT MONITOR: The new drought monitor was released yesterday; 59% of Alabama is in drought. Parts of West Alabama are in an “extreme drought” (D4), including places like Tuscaloosa, Greensboro, Eutaw, Demopolis and Aliceville.

TROPICS: This afternoon Tropical Storm Jerry, with winds of 50 mph, is about 140 miles north of the northern Leeward Islands. It is moving to the northwest at 16 mph; NHC expects Jerry to stay below hurricane strength as it moves over the open Atlantic; no threat to land.

NHC has designated the hybrid low in the northern Atlantic as “Subtropical Storm Karen”. This is a junk system that will dissipate tonight far from land.

The rest of the Atlantic basin is quiet. No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf for at least the next 7-10 days.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Tomorrow Alabama will on the road to take on Missouri (11 a.m. kickoff) … the sky will be sunny with temperatures rising from the mid 70s at kickoff into the upper 70s by the second half.

North Alabama will host Central Arkansas (3 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be sunny with temperatures falling from the upper 70s at kickoff to near 70 by the final whistle.

Auburn will host Georgia tomorrow evening at Jordan-Hare Stadium (6:30 p.m. kickoff) … it will be a very pleasant night with temperatures falling through the 70s, reaching the 60s by the second half. The sky will be clear.

ON THIS DATE IN 1846: A major hurricane, likely a Category 5, moved through the Caribbean Sea. This Great Havana Hurricane struck western Cuba on October 10. It hit the Florida Keys on October 11, destroying the old Key West Lighthouse and Fort Zachary Taylor.

ON THIS DATE IN 2009: Nome, Alaska, experiences its first-ever October thunderstorm with five lightning strikes between 8 and 9 p.m.

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