THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Today will be nice overall with temperatures slightly above normal for late January. Skies will be mainly sunny for much of the day, but clouds will begin to move in late. Afternoon highs will range from the lower 50s to the lower 60s from northwest to southeast.

Sunday will feature mostly cloudy skies and slightly warmer temperatures. Some shower activity looks to move in during the late afternoon, mainly for the northern half of the state. Highs will top out in the mid-50s to the mid-60s from northeast to southwest.

NEXT WEEK: A cold front will begin to move through Alabama on Monday, bringing showers and a few storms mainly during the late afternoon through the evening. A strong storm or two may be possible, but not enough forcing will be available for severe storms. Highs will be in the upper 60s to the mid-70s.

Much of Tuesday will be dry, but showers will start to move northward across southern Alabama during the evening, potentially spreading across the state before sunrise. Highs will be in the upper 50s to the lower 70s.

Wednesday will feature showers at times with the potential of a few rumbles of thunder during the afternoon and early evening. The short wave responsible for the active weather will stay across the southern half of the state, so that is where you can expect the higher rainfall amounts and more thunder. Highs will be in the mid-50s to the upper 60s.

Dry weather can be expected to end the week as skies start clearing Thursday and end up mainly sunny on Friday. Some clouds look to move back in late Friday, but for now rain doesn’t look likely. Highs will be in the upper 40s to the lower 60s Thursday and in the lower 50s to the lower 60s on Friday.

ON THIS DAY IN 1780: It was the coldest day of the coldest month of record in the northeastern U.S. A British Army thermometer in New York City registered a reading of 16 degrees below zero. During that infamous hard winter the harbor was frozen solid for five weeks and the port was cut off from sea supply.

ON THIS DAY IN 1988: Northeastern Colorado experienced its most severe windstorm in years. A wind gust to 92 mph was recorded at Boulder before the anemometer blew away, and in the mountains a wind gust to 120 mph was reported at Mines Peak. The high winds blew down a partially constructed viaduct east of Boulder, as nine unanchored concrete girders, each weighing forty-five tons, were blown off their supports.

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

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