James Spann: Hot summer weekend ahead for Alabama; few isolated showers

RADAR CHECK: Scattered strong thunderstorms are across East and South Alabama this afternoon … heavier storms are producing small hail and gusty winds along with frequent lightning. Away from the storms the sky is partly to mostly sunny with temperatures in the low 90s. Scattered storms will fade away after sunset.

HOT: Summer heat is the story for Alabama over the weekend and into early next week with highs in the low to mid 90s for most places. As always on a summer day, a few pop-up storms are likely during the afternoon and evening hours (mainly from noon to midnight) … but they should be widely scattered. The chance of any one specific location seeing rain is 20-25% tomorrow through Wednesday.

The upper ridge over the region will weaken late next week, which will open the door for an increase in the number of showers and thunderstorms and lower heat levels. Highs will be in the upper 80s for many areas by Friday and the following weekend (August 22-24) … See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: Hurricane Erin this afternoon has winds of 75 mph; the center is about 415 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, and the system is moving to the west/northwest at 17 mph. It is expected to reach major hurricane status over the weekend as it passes north of Puerto Rico, and makes the turn northward, east of the Bahamas.

The NHC track has the hurricane passing west of Bermuda next week, followed by acceleration to northeast with weakening as it encounters colder ocean temperatures. Erin is no threat to the U.S. … although there will be rough surf and an increased rip current danger along the East Coast.

Invest 98L in the far western Gulf is moving into Northeast Mexico and far South Texas this afternoon and did not develop.

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

ON THIS DATE IN 1787: Tornadoes were reported in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Wethersfield, Connecticut was hard hit by the tornado outbreak. There, a woman and her family were caught in the open. She and her son were killed. Clothes from the family farm were carried three miles away. This event is regarded to be the most significant tornado outbreak in early New England history.

ON THIS DATE IN 1969: The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for a 110-mile stretch of land in Florida, between Apalachicola and Fort Walton Beach, as Hurricane Camille continued to strengthen over the Gulf. Watches would be later extended westward, and landfall would come on the Mississippi coast August 17 at category five strength.

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