James Spann forecasts rising moisture levels for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

MOISTURE LEVELS RISING: We will bring in the chance of a few scattered showers this afternoon across Alabama; odds of any one spot getting wet will be around 1 in 4. Otherwise, today will be partly sunny and a little more humid with a high in the upper 80s. The average high for Sept. 10 at Birmingham is 87.

FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND: We are expecting an increase in the number of showers and storms across the Deep South as a tropical wave moves into the Gulf of Mexico. The chance of any one community seeing rain will be around 30% Friday and 60-80% over the weekend. The weekend won’t be a washout, but a few periods of rain are likely, along with potential for some thunder. Most, but not necessarily all, of the rain will come in the window from noon to midnight. Sunshine will be limited Saturday and Sunday, and highs will be in the low to mid 80s.

NEXT WEEK: A moist air mass will hang over Alabama through the week, so each day look for a mix of sun and clouds with scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Highs will remain in the 80s.

TROPICS: We are at the climatological peak of the Atlantic basin hurricane season, and there is a good bit of activity to discuss this morning with three tropical waves and two tropical storms on the board.

One tropical wave will move into the North Carolina coast within the next 36 hours; the National Hurricane Center gives it only a 10% chance of development. It will be mainly a rain maker for the mid-Atlantic coast region.

Another tropical wave will move westward through the Bahamas today; it will wind up in the eastern Gulf of Mexico over the weekend. For now the NHC gives it a 20% chance of development through early next week. This feature will help to bring enhanced moisture levels to parts of the Gulf Coast and Deep South region in coming days with higher rain chances.

If you are headed to the central Gulf Coast (Gulf Shores to Panama City Beach), the wave will likely bring a few periods of rain over the weekend and early next week, but not a total washout Saturday and Sunday. You will see some sun. For now, the rip current danger is low along the coast through the weekend.

A third well-organized tropical wave will move off the coast of Africa today. The NHC gives it a 90% chance of developing over the next five days; the name will be Sally when it reaches tropical storm strength. There’s no way of knowing now whether it will affect the U.S. or any land mass.

TROPICAL STORM PAULETTE: Paulette has 60 mph winds this morning and is centered about 930 miles east/northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. The latest NHC forecast track shows the system reaching hurricane strength late this weekend, and it is forecast to be very close to Bermuda Monday or Monday night. From there, the system should recurve sharply into the open Atlantic and is no threat to the U.S.

TROPICAL STORM RENE: Rene is a weak system in the eastern Atlantic with winds of 40 mph. It is forecast to briefly become a hurricane Saturday before weakening again; this one will gain latitude and will likely remain far from land.

ON THIS DATE IN 1960: The center of Hurricane Donna passed over the middle of the Florida Keys between 2 and 3 a.m. Donna was a Category 5 hurricane over the Atlantic and a Category 4 at landfall. This storm caused the deaths of more than 100 in Puerto Rico and 50 in the continental United States.

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