STORM UPDATE: The latest update from the Storm Prediction Center has an enhanced risk of severe storms, level 3 out of 5, for much of the southern half of Alabama, including the cities of Hoover, Clanton, Selma, Talladega, Alexander City, Auburn, Montgomery, Troy and Eufaula. Nearly the rest of central Alabama is in the level 2 slight risk, which covers the cities of Demopolis, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Gadsden and Anniston. The level 1 marginal risk is up for the extreme northern parts of central Alabama and for much of north Alabama, including the cities of Hamilton, Decatur, Hartselle, Cullman, Scottsboro, Rainsville and Guntersville.

TODAY AND SUNDAY: Rain becomes more scattered this morning on the backside of this first wave of rain and storms. The low-level wind fields will continue to strengthen over the next several hours over the southern half of Alabama, bringing a risk of severe storms with damaging winds and the potential for a couple of tornadoes with this first wave.

Much of the state will get a break from rain as coverage moves east and southeast. By midday, much of the activity will be confined to south Alabama and extreme southeastern central Alabama. More scattered storms are expected to form throughout the afternoon and evening and move eastward. This second round of storms will bring a risk of severe storms from noon to 9 p.m., with the risk ending for the northwestern parts of central Alabama by 4 p.m., for the I-59 corridor by 7 p.m. and for southeastern Alabama by 9 p.m. Damaging winds, large hail and a couple of tornadoes will be possible.

The rain comes to an end by midnight after the cold front moves through and drier air moves in behind it, leaving us with mostly cloudy skies. Today’s highs look to reach the mid-70s to the lower 80s, with overnight lows falling into the upper 40s to the upper 50s.

Sunday will be very nice, with clearing skies and mild temperatures. Highs will be in the 70s.

NEXT WEEK: Monday will be warmer, with near-maximum sunshine and highs reaching the lower to mid-80s. Tuesday will be even warmer and still dry, with highs reaching the mid-80s for most locations. Wednesday will be warm as well, but we’ll have clouds start to move in from the west ahead of our next system. We’ll stay dry and highs will be in the lower to mid-80s.

Rain and storms will begin to enter northwestern Alabama Thursday morning ahead of a cold front. A surface low will move northeastward along the front, staying north of the state. There will be some instability ahead of the front in the warm sector, so we can’t rule out a strong storm at this point. It is too early to know whether we’ll have any severe weather, but we’ll stay on top of it after today’s threat. Highs will be in the mid-70s to the lower 80s.

We may still be dealing with some leftover light rain or drizzle on Friday with a mostly cloudy sky. Highs will be much cooler, reaching the upper 60s to the upper 70s.

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