THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A wave of energy will work its way through Alabama Saturday that will be the catalyst for the development of scattered to numerous thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon and evening. Rain chances will be the highest across the northern half of the state, but all of Alabama will have high rain chances. Highs will range from the lower 80s to the lower 90s from northwest to southeast.

A stalled-out front will be just north of us on Sunday, and that will keep very moist air trapped over Alabama. Unfortunately, that will keep much of the area wet, as scattered to numerous storms will develop with the heating of the day. Highs will be in the lower 80s to the lower 90s.

THE WORK WEEK AHEAD: The pattern throughout the week will not change much. Days will start off with some sunshine, but scattered showers and storms will form mainly during the afternoon and into the early evening hours. Rain chances thin out a little for Thursday and Friday, but odds are over 50/50 for the first three days. Highs will be in the 80s Monday through Thursday, with Friday’s highs reaching the mid-80s to the lower 90s.

TROPICS: No tropical cyclone development is forecast over the next five days for the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION OUTLOOKS: For July 22-26, rainfall may be around to just below average as the main focus looks to shift out over the Southwest. Temperatures may be right around normal for this time of year for Alabama, but much of the northern half of the central U.S. will be seeing temperatures above normal.

ON THIS DATE IN 1934: One of the worst heat waves in the history of the nation commenced. During the last two weeks of the month, extreme heat claimed 679 lives in Michigan, including 300 in Detroit alone.

ON THIS DATE IN 1987: Slow-moving thunderstorms caused flooding on the Guadalupe River in Texas, resulting in tragic loss of life. A bus and van leaving a summer youth camp stalled near the rapidly rising river, just west of the town of Comfort, and a powerful surge of water swept away 43 people, mostly teenagers. Ten drowned in the floodwaters. Most of the others were rescued from tree tops by helicopter.

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.