TROPICAL MISCHIEF: The National Hurricane Center increased the risk of a tropical depression forming in the northern Gulf of Mexico to 70% later this week. A low stationed over Georgia will move over the northern Gulf and will help spin up a tropical low in a few days. It is expected to develop and gain some tropical characteristics while meandering around just off the Gulf Coast. It will eventually move northward and then northeast, but timing on that is unclear at this point. Here are some key notes:

• No matter what this disturbance becomes, the main impact will be from heavy rain and rough surf.

• Chances of this developing into a hurricane are very low, but not zero.

• Please understand that the NHC graphic does not show the forecast track of the disturbance, but it shows how the low over Georgia will be drifting over the northern Gulf to help spin up a tropical low.

• Global models continue to be all over the board at this point. The European model shows the system near Beaumont, Texas, on Saturday night.

• The Global Forecast System shows a broad low/open wave over the central Gulf Coast at the same time.

•The Canadian model shows a more compact system over the Alabama-Georgia state line near Phenix City.

• Until the disturbance gets better organized over the northern Gulf, there is very little skill in forecasting where the main axis of heavy rain will be on the Gulf Coast. It’s just too early.

• We have to remember to not focus on the exact location of the lowest pressure with early-season disturbances like this. Heavy rain can extend out greatly from the center, especially on the east side, where there is an onshore flow.

• The inland parts of the Southeast could receive beneficial rainfall from this disturbance, but it’s too early to know where the axis of heavier rain will be.

TODAY: A center of low pressure will start off today stationed over north-central Georgia that will drift southward through the day. We’ll have partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered to numerous showers and storms. The higher concentration of the activity will be over the southern half of Alabama. Afternoon highs will be in the lower to mid-90s.

TUESDAY: With the low off to our southeast, ridging will start to build somewhat, which will allow for a decrease in the afternoon shower and storm activity. We’ll have mostly clear to partly cloudy skies with a small risk of isolated afternoon showers and storms, mainly over eastern and southeastern Alabama. Highs will be in the lower to mid-90s for most.

WEDNESDAY: With the uncertainty of the location of the low, it doesn’t look like the weather will change much. We’ll be hot and humid with partly cloudy skies and a risk of scattered showers and storms. Highs will be in the lower to mid-90s.

THURSDAY: With the GFS model solution, rain chances will increase. We’ll have scattered to numerous showers and storms possible at any time with the higher concentration over the southern half of the state. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy and highs top out in the lower to mid-90s.

FRIDAY: Gulf moisture will continue to be forced up into Alabama from the tropical disturbance. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy with a decent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, with the higher concentration over the southern half of the state. Highs will be in the lower 90s.

THE WEEKEND AHEAD: The threat of scattered showers and thunderstorms continue on Saturday and Sunday, but we will not know the true impact of these until we get a better handle on what the tropical disturbance is going to do. For now, we’ll go with a chance of scattered showers and storms throughout each day, with the higher concentration of those coming during the main heating of the day. Highs will be in the lower 90s on both days.

BEACH FORECAST CENTER: Get the latest weather and rip current forecasts for the beaches from Fort Morgan to Panama City on our Beach Forecast Center page. There, you can select the forecast of the region you are interested in.

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

For more weather news and information from James Spann, Scott Martin and other members of the James Spann team, visit AlabamaWx.