WARM EARLY MAY WEATHER: Temperatures are in the mid 80s across most of Alabama this afternoon under a sunny sky. An upper ridge will keep it warm and dry tomorrow; with a partly sunny sky we rise into the mid 80s again. Showers and storms for the short term remain well to the west.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A surface front will drift down into north Alabama Saturday, and we will continue to mention a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. But the news is not all bad if you have something planned outdoors:

• Most of the day should be dry.
• The sun will be out at times.
• We stay warm, with a high around 80.
• The southern half of the state should be generally rain-free.
• Rain amounts over north Alabama should be relatively light and spotty; heavier totals will be near the Tennessee state line.

With a mix of sun and clouds, the high Saturday will be in the 78- to 81-degree range for most communities. Drier air slips in here from the north Saturday night, and Sunday looks dry and pleasant with a high in the low 80s and a good supply of sunshine.

NEXT WEEK: The upper ridge holds, meaning the week will be warm and mostly dry. Highs will be in the low to mid 80s, lows in the upper 50s and low 60s. The chance of any really significant rain during the week for now looks pretty small. There’s no risk of severe thunderstorms across Alabama for at least the next 10 days, and it looks like 90-degree heat will arrive by mid-month.

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For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.