James Spann: A few showers for north Alabama this afternoon, tonight
James Spann has the midweek forecast for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
A FEW SHOWERS LATER TODAY/TONIGHT: The upper high over the region is weakening a bit, and this should allow development of a few scattered showers and thunderstorms over north Alabama later today and tonight, mostly between 2 and 9 p.m. The best chance of showers will be north of I-20, and odds of any one spot getting wet in that part of the state will be 30-40%. Most communities along and south of I-20 will remain dry. Otherwise, today will be partly sunny with a high between 86 and 90 degrees this afternoon.
THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Thursday will be partly sunny with a few isolated showers possible during the afternoon and evening; the high will be generally in the mid to upper 80s in most spots. On Friday, a surface front will approach from the north, bringing an increase in the number of showers and thunderstorms. The better chance of rain Friday comes from about 1 until 10 p.m., and a few heavier thunderstorms will be possible over north Alabama. The Storm Prediction Center has areas along and north of I-59 in a low-end marginal risk.
Heavier storms could produce gusty winds and possibly some small hail. The chance of any one spot getting wet over the northern half of the state will be 40-45%.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: Dry air will follow the front, and the holiday weekend looks very nice for most of the state. Expect a sunny sky Saturday and Sunday with lower heat levels; highs drop into the 79- to 83-degree range over north and central Alabama. A few isolated showers are possible near the coast, but even there most places will be dry. The weather stays quiet Monday. The sky will be partly to mostly sunny with only a small risk of a shower; Monday’s high will be in the mid 80s.
REST OF NEXT WEEK: The idea of increased rain chances for Alabama over the latter half of next week is back on the table as global models show an upper trough setting up just west of the state, so we now expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms by Thursday and Friday with highs in the 80s.
SEC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Very warm and generally dry weather continues in Hoover today and Thursday with only a very small risk of a shower. Highs will be between 87 and 90 degrees. A brief passing shower or storm is possible late Friday or Friday night; then the weekend will feature beautiful weather with sunny days, fair nights and lower heat levels. Highs Saturday and Sunday will be in the low 80s.
TROPICS: All is quiet across the Atlantic basin, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the holiday weekend.
ON THIS DATE IN 1917: A major tornadic thunderstorm took a 293-mile track across parts of central Illinois and Indiana. Once believed to be a single tornado, a later study indicated it was likely at least eight separate tornadoes. The first touchdown was about 50 miles south-southeast of Quincy, Illinois. The tornadic storm tracked due east before beginning a northeast curve near Charleston; separate tornadic storms then curved southeast from Charleston. The towns of Mattoon and Charleston bore the brunt of the tornado.
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