James Spann: Dry through Friday in Alabama with rains arriving Saturday into Sunday

ANOTHER WARM DAY: Look for a high in the 80s across Alabama again today with a good supply of sunshine. No change tomorrow, warm and dry with a high in the 80s.

RAIN RETURNS: Most of Alabama will be dry Saturday, although an isolated, small shower can’t be ruled out. A cold front will push an organized batch of showers and a few thunderstorms into the state late Saturday night into part of the day Sunday. For now it looks like the main window for rain will come from about midnight Saturday night through noon Sunday. Rain amounts will vary from around one inch across Northwest Alabama, to barely enough to measure for the southeast corner of the state.

Thunderstorms are possible, but they will likely remain under severe limits with only modest instability and weakening upper support. After a high in the 80s Saturday, Sunday’s high will be in the 70s for most of the state with clouds and showers.

NEXT WEEK: Monday will be dry and pleasant. A cold front will pass through on Tuesday, but with very limited moisture only isolated showers are expected, mainly over the northern third of the state. Then, the coolest air so far this season arrives for the latter half of the week with highs mostly in the 70s; lows will be in the 40s. Colder spots over North Alabama could see upper 30s.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin is very calm; tropical storm formation is not expected for at least the next 7 days.

RACE WEEKEND: The weather will be warm and dry in Talladega tomorrow and Saturday with high in the 80s. A cold front will being showers to East Alabama Sunday morning, but the latest model data suggests there is a good chance the rain will be over by 12 noon/1 p.m. … most of the afternoon is now looking dry. Sunday’s high will be in the 70s.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB will host Memphis Saturday afternoon at Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham (3 p.m. kickoff) … expect a partly sunny sky with temperatures in the mid 80s at kickoff … falling into the 70s by the fourth quarter.

Alabama hosts Tennessee Saturday night (6:30 p.m. kickoff) … the sky becomes mostly cloudy during the game, but for now it looks like the rain will hold off in Tuscaloosa until after 11 p.m. Temperatures will fall through the 70s.

Auburn hosts Missouri (6:45 p.m. kickoff) … the sky becomes mostly cloudy, but we are not expecting any rain during the game. Temperatures fall through the 70s.

ON THIS DATE IN 1944: The 1944 Cuba – Florida hurricane, also known as the Pinar del Rio Hurricane, struck western Cuba on this day as a Category 4. This storm killed an estimated 300 people in Cuba and nine in Florida.

ON THIS DATE IN 1999: Hurricane Irene moved across the Florida Keys producing heavy rainfall, strong winds and high waves. A gust 102 mph was reported in Big Pine Key.

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