WIND ADVISORIES: We have a couple of Wind Advisories in effect across north and central Alabama today. National Weather Service Huntsville has issued one for all north Alabama counties from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. National Weather Service Birmingham has issued the advisory for most central Alabama counties from 10 a.m. until midnight except for Chambers, Lee, Russell, Macon, Bullock, Pike and Barbour counties. Wind gusts up to 40 mph can be expected outside any thunderstorm activity today.

SEVERE WEATHER: We’ll have a chance of scattered showers throughout the morning and into the early afternoon before we may see stronger thunderstorms start to develop during the late afternoon. The front with a line of strong thunderstorms will begin to move into the state by the start of the evening and will slowly progress until exiting Sunday morning. We have the threat of severe weather during this time frame in the form of tornadoes and damaging winds up to 60 mph. Highs today will be in the upper 70s to the lower 80s.

A level 3 enhanced risk is up for all of north Alabama and much of central Alabama down to a line from Livingston to just north of Jemison to just east of Heflin. A level 2 slight risk is up south of the enhanced risk to a line stretching from Sweet Water to Hayneville to Auburn. A level 1 marginal risk is up south of the slight risk for most of the remainder of Alabama.

The main timing for the threat of severe storms looks to start around 6 p.m. and end around midnight in northwestern Alabama; from 8 p.m. tonight through 3 a.m. Sunday morning for locations along and just south of the I-59 corridor; and from 1 a.m. through 8 a.m. Sunday for southern and southeastern Alabama.

The good news with this event is that warm air aloft may inhibit a higher threat of severe storms, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you see these risk levels reduced a little later this morning when the Storm Prediction Center issues the next update. However, we’ll continue to have strong wind shear, a decent amount of instability and plenty of helicity, so if any storm grows strong enough to break through the cap of warm air aloft, the potential will be there for it to quickly become severe.

Significant Tornado Parameters from the latest run of the high-resolution North American Mesoscale system show that we could see values as high as 4 over the northwestern parts of the state, meaning tornadoes will be possible, with the potential of a significant tornado. But, like I said earlier, that warm air aloft may limit the storms and keep those significant tornadoes from happening.

COLDER SUNDAY: The rain and thunderstorm activity along with the cold front will move out of the state by early afternoon on Sunday, but showers will remain possible through the daylight hours. As the temperatures quickly drop throughout the day and into the evening, some of those showers may turn into a light wintry mix or snow flurries. No accumulations are expected, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some patchy ice forms on bridges and overpasses in northern Alabama. Highs will occur early, in the mid-50s to the lower 70s, but overnight lows will drop into the mid-20s to the mid-30s.

NEXT WEEK: After a chilly start Monday morning, skies will clear out and sunny skies can be expected from midmorning through the remainder of the day. Highs will be in the lower 40s to the lower 50s. Tuesday will be much the same but just a tad warmer. Highs will be in the lower 50s to near 60 degrees.

Skies will become mostly cloudy Wednesday as a cold front approaches and moves into the state. Showers will become possible by afternoon and will continue across the state through the remainder of the day. Highs will be in the mid-50s to the mid-60s.

Showers will remain possible through the day Thursday but will move out during the early evening and skies will remain mostly cloudy. Highs will be in the lower 50s to the mid-60s. Sunny skies will return Friday, but so will much colder temperatures. Highs will reach only the lower 40s to the lower 50s.

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