James Spann: Alabama will see highs near 80 today, tomorrow; rain returns Friday

RADAR CHECK: We actually have a few small, isolated showers over North Alabama early this morning at daybreak, but they are fading fast and most of the state will be dry again today with a very warm afternoon. With a mix of sun and clouds we project a high around 80 degrees this afternoon, right at record levels for mid to late November.

Tomorrow will be another warm day … with a partly sunny sky temperatures rise into the upper 70s and low 80s. Clouds will increase tomorrow night, and rain returns to Alabama on Friday ahead of a cold front.

We expect periods of rain Friday and Friday night … there could be a rumble of thunder in spots, but there is no risk of severe storms. Rain amounts will vary from around 1/2 inch over North Alabama, to just a trace for the southeast counties.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: We will maintain the risk of a few lingering showers Saturday morning, but the weather will be dry Saturday night into Sunday. Highs over the weekend will be in the 70s.

THANKSGIVING WEEK: The weather will be dry Monday; another cold front will bring rain into the state late Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into Wednesday morning. With limited instability and dynamic support severe storms are not expected; rain with this feature will vary from around one inch across the northern counties, to under a quarter of an inch for Southeast Alabama. The high Monday will be near 70, followed by a high in the 65–70-degree range Tuesday.

Thanksgiving Day looks dry and cooler with highs in the 50s over North Alabama, 60s to the south. Dry weather will likely continue on Friday and through the weekend with a sharp drop in temperature. By Saturday North Alabama won’t get out of the 40s during the day, and lows will be in the 20s by Sunday morning.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Auburn hosts Mercer Saturday (1 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be mostly cloudy, and a brief shower is possible. Temperatures will be in the low 70s.

Saturday Alabama will host Eastern Illinois in Tuscaloosa (1 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be partly sunny with just a small risk of a shower during the game. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 70s.

UAB hosts South Florida at Protective Stadium (2 p.m. kickoff) … expect a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the mid 70s at kickoff, falling into the 60s by the fourth quarter. Just a small chance of a passing shower.

EARLY IRON BOWL FORECAST: For the biggest game of the year in Alabama (Alabama at Auburn, Saturday November 29 at 6:30 p.m.) … the weather is looking cold and dry with temperatures falling into the 30s during the game.

ON THIS DATE IN 1930: An estimated F4 tornado struck the town of Bethany, Oklahoma. Between 9:30 a.m. and 9:58 a.m., it moved north-northeast from 3 miles west of the Oklahoma City limits and hit the eastern part of Bethany. About 110 homes and 700 other buildings, or about a fourth of the town, were damaged or destroyed. Near the end of the damage path, 3.5 miles northeast of Wiley Post Airfield, the tornado hit the Camel Creek School. Buildings blew apart just as the students were falling to the floor and looking for shelter, and five students and a teacher were killed. A total of 23 people were killed and another 150 injured.

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