PLEASANT AFTERNOON: The sky is mostly sunny across Alabama today; the sun is shining through a thin layer of cirrus clouds about 25,000 feet off the ground. Temperatures are mostly in the low 70s, not far from average for early November in Alabama. Tonight will be mostly fair with a low between 50 and 55 degrees.

FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND: Look for partly sunny, mild days and mostly fair nights through Sunday. Most of the state will remain dry, although a few isolated showers could show up near the coast Saturday. Highs will be in the 70s; a few spots could reach 80 degrees Sunday afternoon. Lows will be in the low to mid 60s over the weekend.

NEXT WEEK: Moisture levels will slowly rise through the week. For now Monday and Tuesday look dry, but showers are possible over the latter half of the week. There could be a significant rain event by Friday, Nov. 13, if Eta moves into the central Gulf Coast region, but it is far too early to know whether that happens. Highs will be in the 70s.

TROPICS: Tropical Depression Eta is over Honduras this afternoon; it will move back into the Caribbean Friday, where it is expected to reach tropical storm strength again by Friday night. The system moves over Cuba Sunday and then turns westward Monday, entering the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Most long-range global models suggest Eta will continue to gain latitude in the Gulf of Mexico late next week, with some potential to affect the central Gulf Coast. Thankfully sea water temperatures continue to fall, reducing any chance of this becoming a major hurricane near the coast, but it still needs to be watched since some wind and rain impact is very possible. It’s too early to be specific; once the system becomes better organized over the Caribbean in coming days, model guidance will become more reliable.

ON THIS DATE IN 1894: A significant snowstorm affected New England on Nov. 5-6. It formed off the New Jersey coast and passed east of Connecticut with rapidly increasing heavy rain and snow, along with high winds. This caused significant damage to trees and brought down telegraph poles by the hundreds. The telegraph and telephone service in all southern New England was crippled, and fallen poles and trees delayed railroad trains.

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