STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE OVER THE WEEKEND: A warm front will be moving northward through Alabama into the late morning today that will bring a chance of a few showers and thunderstorms. There will be a small risk for strong to marginally severe storms for the extreme northern parts of central Alabama and for all of north Alabama until the activity moves out before noon, with gusty winds and small hail being the main threats.

After that, we’ll have a decent break with dry, warm weather before a cold front approaches and eventually moves in after midnight, bringing with it rain and thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center has a level 2 out of 5 slight risk for severe storms up for much of north Alabama and into the northwestern corner of central Alabama, mainly for locations along and north of a line from Stevenson (Jackson County) to Hartselle (Morgan County) to Pine Springs (Lamar County). A level 1 out of 5 marginal risk is up for locations south of that to a line stretching from Boligee (Greene County) to Pelham (Shelby County) to Jacksonville (Calhoun County). This Severe Weather Outlook expires at 7 a.m. Sunday. The threat for strong to severe storms will begin around 3 a.m. for the northwestern parts of central Alabama. Tornadoes, damaging winds and quarter-sized hail will be possible.

The front will continue to work its way across Alabama throughout much of the day on Sunday, and a few strong to severe storms will be possible until the threat comes to an end by early evening. Tornadoes, damaging winds and quarter-sized hail will be possible. The good news is that the activity will be in a weakening state as it moves eastward. The SPC has a slight risk up for the northeastern corner of Alabama, mainly for locations east of a line from Bridgeport (Jackson County) to Guntersville (Marshall County) to Coldwater (Cleburne County). A marginal risk is up for much of the the rest of the state, except for the extreme northwest corner and extreme south Alabama.

All activity should be out of the state by your late local newscast on Sunday night. Saturday’s highs will be in the upper 70s to the mid-80s from northwest to southeast. Sunday’s highs will be in the mid-60s to the lower 80s.

THE WORK WEEK: A stray leftover shower or two may be possible before sunrise Monday, but the rest of the day will have a mix of sun and clouds with a small chance of a scattered afternoon shower or two. Highs will be in the lower 60s to the lower 70s.

A short wave will move through on Tuesday that will bring another chance of showers mainly through the morning, but a very small risk for showers will continue through the remainder of the day. Skies will be mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s to the mid-70s.

A cold front will approach Alabama on Wednesday morning that will bring a chance of showers and a storm or two, but those will become likely later in the day. The good news is that the associated low will be well off to the north in Canada, so there’s no risk of severe weather at this point. Highs will top out in the mid-60s to the lower 80s.

Much of the shower and storm activity should be out of the state by sunrise Thursday, which will leave us with skies becoming sunny by the afternoon and much cooler temperatures. Highs will be in the mid-50s to the mid-60s.

Friday will start off chilly, with lows in the lower 30s to right around 40 degrees and a light frost for some locations in the northern half of the state. After the sun comes up and moves higher into the sky, the daytime highs will eventually reach the lower to mid-60s.

EASTER WEEKEND: Skies will be sunny through most of Saturday, but a few clouds may float across the area after sunset. There will be no rain associated with those clouds. Highs will be in the upper 50s to the mid-60s from east to west. There will be a mix of sun and clouds on Easter, but once again we’ll remain dry. Highs will be in the mid to upper 60s.

ON THIS DATE IN 1994: An F4 tornado tracked 50 miles through St. Clair, Calhoun and Cherokee counties in Alabama, killing 22 people and injuring 150. Twenty people were killed when the tornado destroyed the Goshen United Methodist Church in Cherokee County.

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.