RADAR CHECK: We have a number of showers and strong thunderstorms across Alabama this afternoon; they are in rather random places, and are moving very slowly to the south. Additional showers and storms will form through the evening.

A flash flood warning is in effect for parts of Colbert and Lauderdale counties because of a cluster of slow-moving storms there at midafternoon.

There was flooding in parts of Lee County earlier this morning; rain totals of 2 to 3 inches were common around Auburn and Opelika. I had one report of 2.97 inches between Opelika and Lafayette.

Temperatures are mostly in the 80s, although places with rain are in the 70s. Showers and storms will end later tonight.

TOMORROW THROUGH THE WEEKEND: Tropical moisture will stay in place, and the weather won’t be much different — warm, humid days with scattered showers and thunderstorms.

BIG EVENTS: Many outdoor events are coming up across Alabama through the weekend, including high school graduations, the Regions Tradition at Greystone, the Hangout Music Festival at Gulf Shores and Do Dah Day in Birmingham. These points apply to all of these events and all venues in Alabama:

• This is not a situation where rain will go on for hours; instead, showers and thunderstorms will be somewhat scattered.
• Showers and storms will be rather random, meaning there is no way of knowing exactly when and where they will pop up in advance, and we can’t give specific start/stop times for any one location.
• Rain distribution will be very uneven. Some places on any given day could see well over 1 inch of rain; other spots will see nothing (much like yesterday).
• Most of the showers will come during the peak of the daytime heating process, between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. But we can’t rule out a late-night or morning shower.
• Organized severe storms are not expected, but heavier thunderstorms will produce very heavy rain and will also have potential for small hail.
• When thunder roars, GO INDOORS. When you hear thunder, get into a car, truck, house, church, etc. Don’t risk it.

We are lapsing into a summer pattern, when “scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms” are mentioned almost daily.

BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.

WEATHER BRAINS: You can listen to our weekly 90-minute netcast any time on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including meteorologists at ABC 33/40.

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

Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
Instagram
Pinterest
Snapchat: spannwx

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