James Spann: No relief from drought in Alabama this week from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

DROUGHT TO WORSEN THIS WEEK: While a number of communities in North and West Alabama did receive rain Thursday night, the official reporting site in Birmingham (Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport) didn’t receive anything, and the total for October so far is only a trace. Here is a look at the number of consecutive days with no measurable rain for some places across Alabama (counting today, which will be dry):

• Tuscaloosa — 37 (last measurable rain was Sept. 17, with 0.33 inches).
• Birmingham — 36 (Sept. 18, 0.32 inches).
• Anniston — 28 (Sept. 26, 0.01 inches).
• Huntsville — 4 (Oct. 20, 0.77 inches).

DON’T BURN: There is a no-burn order for North and Central Alabama. This includes YOU. Way too many people with fire pits and campfires going this weekend. There are no exceptions. And conserve water. Droughts are serious business.

The shot below is Lake Purdy yesterday (photo from @hms2010).

TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY: Cool mornings, warm afternoons. With no soil moisture, temperatures will climb quickly, and we will see a high at or just over 80 degrees through Wednesday. We are in the 40s this morning, and lows should be in the 50s early tomorrow and Wednesday. Sunny days, clear nights.

THURSDAY: A wave will pass through the state, bringing scattered clouds, but no real hope for meaningful rain. We will mention a small risk of a shower, but don’t get your hopes up. The high will be in the mid to upper 70s.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: Still dry. Sunny days, clear nights, and a cooling trend over the weekend. The GFS is printing a high of 77 for Birmingham Saturday, followed by 71 Sunday.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: A clear sky for the high school games Friday night, with temperatures falling through the 60s.

Auburn is on the road this weekend, playing at Ole Miss in Oxford (6:15 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be clear, with temperatures falling from near 70 at kickoff into the low 60s by the fourth quarter.

Alabama has the weekend off.

NEXT WEEK: Still no sign of rain for at least the first half of the week; Halloween will be dry, with a pleasant evening for trick-or-treaters Monday.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER: The weather typically becomes more active during these two months; it is our late fall severe weather season in Alabama. We don’t need the severe weather, but we sure need the rain.

AT THE BEACH: Sunny days, clear nights through the weekend. Highs around 80, lows in the 60s. See a detailed Gulf Coast forecast here.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin is quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected this week. It has been 11 years since the last major hurricane made U.S. landfall (Wilma, 2005) – the longest U.S. major hurricane landfall drought on record.

WEATHER BRAINS: You can listen to our weekly 90-minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including meteorologists at ABC 33/40. We will produce this week’s show tonight at 8:30. You can watch it live here.

CONNECT: You can find me on all of the major social networks:

Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
Instagram

For more weather news and information, visit Alabama WX.