SAME STORY: Exceptional drought conditions continue across much of North and Central Alabama, and the situation won’t get any better over the next seven days. With no soil moisture, the solar energy will be all focused on heating the ground, which in turn heats a very dry airmass, and temperatures will soar to near record levels each afternoon through early next week.

With sunny days, we project highs in the 85- to 89-degree range tomorrow through Tuesday of next week.

We hadn’t established a daily record high in October since 1984, so we were long overdue for this. Here are the records for Birmingham in coming days:

• Today — 86 (1900)
• Oct. 29 — 86 (1984)
• Oct. 30 — 86 (1984)
• Oct. 31 — 87 (1984)
• Nov. 1 — 85 (2000)

FOOTBALL WEATHER: A clear sky for the high school games tonight, with temperatures falling through the 70s.

For tomorrow’s Magic City Classic in Birmingham (Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M, 3 p.m. kickoff), the sky will be sunny, with temperatures falling from near 85 degrees at kickoff into the 70s by the fourth quarter.

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 75 at kickoff into the upper 60s by the fourth quarter.

Alabama has the weekend off.

LATE NEXT WEEK: Cooler air will finally drop into Alabama; the GFS model drops the high into the 70s by Thursday and Friday, but unfortunately prospects for rain late in the week look very slim.

LONG RANGE: Global models continue to suggest a pattern change by mid-November, with a positive PNA (Pacific/North American teleconnection pattern), and negative NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation). There is optimism this will bring cooler temperatures and a chance of badly needed rain.

AT THE BEACH: Sunny days and clear nights on the coast from Panama City Beach to Gulf Shores through next week, with highs in the low 80s. See a detailed Gulf Coast forecast here.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin remains quiet and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.

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