COOL SEPTEMBER DAY: The average high on Sept. 22 at Birmingham is 83; temperatures are only in the upper 60s and low 70s across much of Alabama this afternoon. The sky is mostly cloudy, and we have seen a few sprinkles and patches of light rain, especially on the western side of the state. The sky will stay generally cloudy Wednesday; a few showers are possible over west Alabama during the day, but rain becomes more likely statewide as the remnant circulation of former Tropical Storm Beta gets closer.

THURSDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND: Thursday will be cool and wet; rain is likely much of the day with temperatures holding around 70 degrees. Then, on Friday, the weather turns warmer with occasional showers and possibly a thunderstorm. The high Friday afternoon will be in the low 80s.

Over the weekend, expect warm and humid weather Saturday and Sunday with occasional showers and a few thunderstorms. It won’t be a total washout, but if you have something planned outdoors be ready for rain from time to time. Most, but not all, of the showers will come from noon to midnight. Highs will rise into the mid 80s both days.

NEXT WEEK: Drier air punches into the state Monday; temperatures rise into the mid to upper 80s. Then a cold front arrives Tuesday with just a few isolated showers. Cool, dry weather is the story Wednesday through Friday, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB has another Thursday night special, playing the South Alabama Jaguars in Mobile (6:30 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be cloudy with some rain likely during the game; temperatures will be in the mid to upper 70s. For the high school football games Friday night, you will also need to take the rain gear. Periods of rain are possible with temperatures in the 70s.

Saturday, Auburn hosts Kentucky (11 a.m. kickoff) at Jordan Hare Stadium. The sky will be mostly cloudy with the chance of a few passing showers during the game. Temperatures will rise from near 75 degrees at kickoff to near 80 by the final whistle.

Alabama travels to Columbia to take on Missouri (6 p.m. kickoff). Clouds will increase Saturday night and a few scattered showers are possible during the game, but nothing too heavy or widespread. Temperatures will fall through the 70s, perhaps reaching the upper 60s by the final whistle.

FALL IS HERE: The autumn equinox arrived this morning at 8:31 a.m. Today the sun is directly over the equator; we have approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.

TROPICS: Beta is now a tropical depression on the middle Texas coast; it will move northeast in coming days, and the remnant circulation is forecast to be near Tupelo Friday.

Out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Teddy, with winds of 100 mph, will become post-tropical tonight and weaken a bit as it approaches Nova Scotia and the Canadian Maritimes. In the far eastern Atlantic, Tropical Storm Paulette will loop around off the northern coast of Africa and dissipate again in a few days with no threat to land.

A weak disturbance over Cuba is not expected to develop.

ON THIS DATE IN 2006: The tri-state area of Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky was struck by the worst September tornado outbreak in recorded history. One supercell produced a long-track F4 tornado across southeastern Missouri into southwestern Illinois. This tornado traveled 27.5 miles.

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