James Spann: Warm, dry weather for Alabama Thursday, Friday; a few weekend showers

THIS AFTERNOON: The sky is mostly sunny across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures in the 80s. We note a few isolated showers over the western half of the state; these are moving eastward and will fizzle quickly around sunset. Tonight will be mostly fair with a low in the 60s.

Thursday and Friday will be warm and dry; with a partly to mostly sunny sky, afternoon highs will be between 87 and 90 degrees. A few thunderstorms could creep into the Tennessee Valley late Friday night ahead of a front. Some of those storms could be strong, but the core risk of severe storms is north of Alabama.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: The front will run out of gas near the Alabama/Tennessee state line, and we will mention the chance of a few widely scattered showers and thunderstorms for the northern two-thirds of the state over the weekend. An upper ridge should keep the rain from being widespread, and the best chance of a passing shower or storm will come during the afternoons and evenings; many places will be dry. The weather stays warm, with highs in the 80s.

NEXT WEEK: Highs will remain in the 80s through the week, and a few scattered showers and storms are possible Monday, Tuesday night and Wednesday. But the strong winds aloft will be north of Alabama and should keep the primary severe weather threats to the north.

ON THIS DATE IN 1923: An early-morning violent estimated F5 tornado cut a 45-mile path of destruction through Howard and Mitchell counties in Texas. Twenty-three people lost their lives and 250 suffered injuries. The path width of the tornado reached 1.5 miles at one point, and entire farms were wiped off the face of the earth. The First Baptist Church in Colorado City, Texas, became an emergency hospital for tornado victims.

ON THIS DATE IN 1990: Thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front produced severe weather from northwest Texas to western Missouri. Severe thunderstorms spawned 17 tornadoes, including nine in Texas. Four tornadoes in Texas injured nine people. Thunderstorms in Texas also produced hail 4 inches in diameter at Shamrock and 4½ inches in diameter near Guthrie.

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