James Spann: Alabama will see some isolated showers today with cooler air to follow

RADAR CHECK: Just before daybreak we have a few small, isolated showers over Clay and Randolph counties in East Alabama … the rest of the state is dry with temperatures in the 67–72-degree range. Expect a partly sunny sky today; any showers this afternoon should be confined to the southeast counties of the state ahead of a front. Temperatures reach the low to mid 80s, but highs will be in the upper 70s over the Tennessee Valley as cooler air begins to drop into the Deep South.

Any showers tomorrow will be few and far between; highs will be in the 76–82-degree range for most communities.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Expect mostly sunny pleasant days and clear cool nights. Highs in the upper 70s and low 80s, lows generally in the 50s. Cooler spots across North Alabama could visit the upper 40s both Saturday and Sunday morning.

NEXT WEEK: The week looks warm and dry; highs in the 80s, lows in the 50s and low 60s. Remember, October is the driest month of the year in Alabama, so having long dry spells is common this time of the year.

TROPICS: This morning Tropical Storm Jerry, with winds of 50 mph, is about 890 miles east/southeast of the northern Leeward Islands. It is moving to the west/northwest at 23 mph, and is expected to become a hurricane tomorrow. It will turn north into the open Atlantic well, well to the east of the U.S.

And, a trough of low pressure over the Bay of Campeche is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some slow development of this system is possible before it moves inland over southern Mexico later today or early tomorrow. The chance of development is only 10%.

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

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Saturday Alabama will on the road to take on Missouri (11 a.m. kickoff) … the sky will be sunny with temperatures rising from the upper 70s at kickoff into the low 80s 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 Saturday 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 upper 60s by the fourth quarter. The sky will be clear.

ON THIS DATE IN 1946: A minimal Category 1 hurricane made landfall over Bradenton, Florida, before tracking north-northeast across Tampa Bay. The storm was the last hurricane to make direct landfall in the Tampa Bay area.

ON THIS DATE IN 2016: Matthew made its fourth and final landfall over the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge near McClellanville, South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane. Widespread effects were felt from Matthew across its destructive path. However, the most significant impacts were felt in Haiti, with $2.8 billion in damage and 674 deaths, making Matthew the worst disaster to affect the nation since the 2010 earthquake.

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