James Spann: Cooler nights ahead for Alabama; afternoons stay warm

CALM DAYS: October is the driest month of the year for Alabama, and most of the state will stay dry through the weekend with any showers remaining very isolated. We will bring in a chance of showers for the southern quarter of the state over the weekend; best chance of meaningful rain will be near the coast (but it won’t be a weekend washout). Highs will stay in the 80s, but nights will be cooler with most North Alabama communities dropping into the 50s Friday and Saturday morning.

Moisture creeps northward early next week and we will have some risk showers statewide Monday through Wednesday, but nothing widespread or heavy. Highs hold in the 80s next week.

TROPICS: This morning Hurricane Imelda, with winds of 90 mph, is about 455 miles west/southwest of Bermuda. It is moving to the east/northeast at 20 mph, and it will cross over Bermuda late this afternoon and tonight with hurricane force winds, damaging waves and flash flooding. Then, it becomes post-tropical tomorrow.

Hurricane Humberto, with winds of 80 mph, is about 280 miles north of Bermuda and is merging with a cold front, becoming post-tropical. It is no threat to land, and the rest of the Atlantic basin is very quiet. No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf for at least the next 7-10 days.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB hosts Army Saturday at Protective Stadium (11 a.m. kickoff) … the sky will be mostly sunny with temperatures rising into the mid 80s.

Alabama hosts Vanderbilt Saturday in Tuscaloosa (2:30 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 80s at kickoff, falling to near 80 by the final whistle.

Troy will host South Alabama Saturday evening (6 p.m. kickoff) … just a small risk of a shower, otherwise mostly fair with temperatures falling from the low 80s at kickoff into the 70s during the second half of the game.

ON THIS DATE IN 1938: Grannis and Okay, Arkansas set an all-time high-temperature record for October for Arkansas with 105 degrees.

ON THIS DATE IN 1977: While an F3 tornado traveled less than one mile through Montfort Heights or the greater Cincinnati area, it destroyed 12 homes and damaged 15 others. There were 17 injuries.

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