James Spann: Showers mainly for South Alabama tomorrow; temperatures remain below normal

RADAR CHECK: A large area of light rain is over parts of West and Southwest Alabama this afternoon … moving southeast. Periods of light rain are possible tonight mainly over the southern 2/3 of the state.

Showers are possible tomorrow across Alabama, mainly south of I-20 (Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Anniston). It won’t rain all day, and rain amounts should be fairly light. Highs will be generally in the mid 80s, which is below average for late August.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A surface front will drift into South Alabama and become nearly stationary. A few showers are possible both days mainly south of the front, over the southern quarter of the state (especially south of U.S. 84). For now it looks like North and Central Alabama will be dry; highs will be in the mid 80s.

Moisture levels will rise early next week, and we will mention a chance of showers Monday through Wednesday. Then, global models are suggesting drier air could drop into the Deep South by Thursday and Friday. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin remains very quiet. There is only one area of interest … a tropical wave is forecast to emerge off the west coast of Africa on Sunday. Thereafter, environmental conditions could support some slow development of this system while it moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic next week. The chance of development is only 20%.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB hosts Alabama State at Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham tonight (7:30 p.m. kickoff). Some light rain can’t be ruled out, otherwise expect a mostly cloudy sky … temperatures will fall from near 78 at kickoff into the low 70s by the fourth quarter.

Auburn will take on Baylor in Waco, Texas tomorrow night (7 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be mostly cloudy and there is the chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm during the game. Temperatures will fall from near 89 degrees at kickoff into the low 80s by the final whistle.

Saturday Alabama will be in Tallahassee to take on Florida State (2:30 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be cloudy at times, and a few passing showers or storms are likely during the game. Temperatures will be in the mid 80s.

ON THIS DATE IN 1990: Between 3:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. a devastating F5 tornado ripped a 16.4 mile-long path through portions of Kendall and Will counties in northern Illinois. A total of 29 people were killed, and 350 more were injured.

ON THIS DATE IN 2005: Hurricane Katrina attained Category 5 status in the Gulf and reached its peak strength at midday, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and a minimum central pressure of 902 mb. It could make landfall the next day as a category three hurricane on the Mississippi coast near Waveland.

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