James Spann: Alabama stays dry as cooler air arrives this weekend

DRY: Showers will be basically impossible to find across Alabama today, over the weekend, and through all of next week as drought conditions continue to intensify. Nights will be cooler; lows will be in the 50s over much of the state both tomorrow and Sunday morning. Some of the cooler spots over North Alabama could reach the upper 40s. Afternoon highs will be in the 77–84-degree range through Sunday.

Afternoons will be warm next week with highs in the 80s.

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 morning Tropical Storm Jerry, with winds of 50 mph, is about 80 miles north/northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. It is moving to the northwest at 17 mph; NHC now expects Jerry to stay below hurricane strength as it moves over the open Atlantic; no threat to land after it moves away from the Leeward Islands.

NHC has designated the hybrid low in the northern Atlantic as “Subtropical Storm Karen”. This is a junk system that won’t last long and will be 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.