James Spann: Heat levels will slowly fall in Alabama in coming days

RADAR CHECK: As expected, showers and thunderstorms are few and far between across Alabama this afternoon. With a partly to mostly sunny sky, temperatures are mostly in the low to mid 90s. Any isolated showers will disappear quickly after sunset.

Over the latter half of the week, we expect a gradual trend toward lower heat levels and a greater coverage of scattered showers and thunderstorms. By Friday the high will be in the 88-92 degree range with any one spot having 55-65% chance of seeing some rain. Most, but not necessarily all, of the showers and storms will come from noon to midnight.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: The upper ridge across the Deep South will continue to break down, and we expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms both Saturday and Sunday. Not a weekend wash-out, but a passing shower or storm is likely from time to time. The sky will be cloudy at times, and highs will be mostly in the mid to upper 80s.

NEXT WEEK: Global models suggest a rare August cold front will pass through the state early in the week, which will bring dry, continental air into the Deep South. This means lower humidity levels and cooler nights … lows will be well down in the 60s by Tuesday and Wednesday morning, with potential for 50s for the cooler spots across North Alabama. A decent part of the week will be dry … See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: Hurricane Erin continues the weakening trend this afternoon… sustained winds are down to 105 mph. The center is about 630 miles southwest of Bermuda, and is moving to the north/northwest at 10 mph.

Erin will pass between the U.S. and Bermuda Thursday; from there the system heads quickly into the North Atlantic and becomes post-tropical this weekend. The hurricane is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the beaches of the Bahamas, much of the east coast of the U.S., Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days. Beachgoers in those areas should follow advice from lifeguards, local authorities, and beach warning flags.

Elsewhere, a tropical wave located over the central tropical Atlantic continues to produce a broad area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form toward the end of the week or this weekend. This system should move westward to west-northwestward at about 20 mph and approach the vicinity of the northern Leeward Islands on Friday.

NHC gives this feature a 60% chance of becoming a depression or tropical storm; all 51 members of the reliable European global model show it turning north into the open Atlantic well east of the U.S.

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

ON THIS DATE IN 1890: An estimated F3 tornado hit South Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. About 400 buildings were destroyed in the industrial and more impoverished residential section of town. The death toll was 16

ON THIS DATE IN 1991: Hurricane Bob made landfall near Newport, Rhode Island, with winds of 100 mph. Bob left extensive damage throughout New England in its wake; there were a total of 18 fatalities.

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