James Spann: Showers remain scarce in Alabama; cooler nights are on the way

RADAR CHECK: At mid-afternoon we have a few small, isolated showers over the eastern half of the state. Most locations are reporting a partly sunny sky, but we have a general mid to high level overcast across the southeast counties, where temperatures are in the mid to upper 70s. But most communities are in the 80s. The isolated showers will fade quickly after sunset; tonight will be mostly fair with a low in the 60s.

Showers will remain very hard to find through the rest of the week. Afternoons will stay warm with highs in the 80s, but nights will be cooler later in the week … morning lows will drop into the 50s over the northern counties by Friday morning.

Not much change for the weekend … most of the state will be dry with highs in the 80s. However, we will mention some risk of a shower Saturday near the coast, and then over the southern quarter of the state Sunday as moisture begins to creep northward. Nothing heavy or widespread.

NEXT WEEK: Global models are showing some risk of a few scattered showers across Alabama early next week Monday and Tuesday ahead of an upper trough, but rain amounts will mostly likely be light. Drier air follows over the latter half of the week; highs hold in the 80s. See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: This afternoon Hurricane Imelda, with winds of 85 mph, is about 690 miles west/southwest of Bermuda. It is moving to the east/northeast at 12 mph, and is expected to strengthen. The NHC forecast track puts it near Bermuda tomorrow night before moving out into the North Atlantic as a post-tropical cyclone.

Hurricane Humberto, with winds of 80 mph, is about 300 miles west of Bermuda. It continues to weaken while moving north/northwest at 18 mph and will become post-tropical tomorrow over the open North Atlantic.

The rest of the Atlantic basin is very calm and no tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf for at least the next 7-10 days.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB hosts Army Saturday at Protective Stadium (11 a.m. kickoff) … the sky will be mostly sunny with temperatures rising into the mid 80s.

Alabama hosts Vanderbilt Saturday in Tuscaloosa (2:30 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 80s at kickoff, falling to near 80 by the final whistle.

Troy will host South Alabama Saturday evening (6 p.m. kickoff) … just a small risk of a shower, otherwise mostly fair with temperatures falling from the low 80s at kickoff into the 70s during the second half of the game.

ON THIS DATE IN 2022: Hurricane Ian made its final landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina with sustained winds of 80 mph. Two days earlier Ian came ashore near Cayo Costa, Florida with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, tying the record for the fifth-strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States.

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