James Spann: Only isolated showers, storms for Alabama this afternoon

PLEASANT MORNING: With a drier air mass in place over north Alabama, we actually have a few spots in the 50s — amazingly pleasant for June in Alabama. Oneonta reports 56 degrees just before daybreak; Cullman is at 59. A dense fog advisory is in effect for some eastern counties; that fog will dissipate by midmorning.

Expect a partly to mostly sunny sky today with a high between 87 and 91 degrees. A few isolated showers or storms could pop up this afternoon, mainly over the southern counties.

Thursday also will be partly sunny with isolated afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Moisture will move northward, and there will be a general increase in the number of showers and storms, but they will still be scattered and mostly during the afternoon and evening (2-10 p.m.). The chance of any given spot seeing a shower or thunderstorm each day is 50-60%; otherwise, expect warm, humid days with a mix of sun and clouds.

Remember, this is summer in Alabama. You will have the risk of an afternoon shower or storm just about every afternoon from now through early September. They tend to be totally random and scattered, with no way of knowing in advance exactly when and where they pop up. You simply have to watch radar trends once they form.

NEXT WEEK: It looks like we will have classic June weather next week, with partly sunny days and the typical risk of a pop-up shower or thunderstorm during the afternoons and evenings. Heat levels will rise over the latter half of the week as an upper ridge strengthens; afternoon highs will be in the low 90s by then.

TROPICS: All is quiet across the Atlantic basin again this morning, and there is no risk of a tropical storm or hurricane over at least the next seven days.

ON THIS DATE IN 1990: One of the most expensive hailstorms in U.S. history occurred as $625 million of damage was caused along the Colorado Front Range from Colorado Springs to Estes Park. Golf ball- to baseball-sized hail fell along with heavy rain. Sixty people were injured in the storm.

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.