THIS WEEKEND: What a great weekend ahead as we’ll stay dry with very nice weather. Saturday will feature near-maximum sunshine with highs in the mid-70s to the lower 80s. Sunday will continue the mainly sunny, dry conditions with warmer temperatures. Afternoon highs will be in the upper 70s to the mid-80s.

NEXT WEEK: A ridge will set up over the Southeast during the work week, which will bring us warmer temperatures and higher humidity levels. Monday will feature mostly sunny skies with highs in the lower to mid-80s. We look to remain mostly dry Tuesday, but with higher humidity levels, I can’t rule out an isolated shower or two somewhere. Highs will be in the upper 70s to the upper 80s.

Wednesday will feature the best chance of scattered afternoon showers and storms, but overall chances will be only around 40%. Highs will range from the lower 80s in the north to the upper 80s in the southeast. Rain chances will drop Thursday, but an isolated shower or two will be possible during the main heating of the day. Highs will be in the lower to mid-80s.

Friday will be warmer, but I believe the entire day will be dry. With mostly sunny skies, highs will be in the mid to upper 80s, and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone hits 90 degrees in extreme southeastern Alabama.

ON THIS DATE IN 1968: A tornado touched down southwest of Anchorage, Alaska. It was the second of just three tornadoes reported in Alaska since 1950.

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.

TROPICAL ATLANTIC UPDATE: Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1, it is not uncommon for tropical cyclones to form prior to that date. To provide more consistent information on the potential for late May and early June systems, the National Hurricane Center began the routine issuance of the Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook at 7 a.m. Central on May 15. The Tropical Weather Outlook is issued every six hours from May 15 through Nov. 30 at 1 a.m., 7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. With the change to standard time on Nov. 7, the issuance times are midnight, 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.

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