James Spann: Summer-like heat through Friday; showers return to Alabama over the weekend
HOT MAY DAYS: Temperatures are mostly between 88 and 93 degrees across Alabama this afternoon with a mostly sunny but hazy sky. Showers are almost impossible to find on radar, and tonight will be mostly fair with a low between 65 and 72 degrees.
Hot, dry weather will continue Thursday and Friday with partly to mostly sunny days, fair nights and highs between 90 and 95 degrees, the hottest weather we have experienced so far this year.
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: The upper ridge weakens and moisture levels will rise across the Deep South over the weekend. Saturday will feature a mix of sun and clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms; the chance of any one spot getting wet is 35-45%. The high will be in the mid 80s. On Sunday, showers and storms become more numerous as a front approaches. It won’t rain all day, but occasional showers are likely with some thunder possible. Heat levels will continue to fall; some places won’t get out of the 70s because of clouds and showers.
NEXT WEEK: A warm, moist air mass will remain in place, and we will have some risk of scattered showers and storms daily, most likely during the afternoon and evening. Highs will be in the 80s through the week.
TROPICS: Ignore the social media hype; the Atlantic basin is quiet now, and the Gulf of Mexico will likely stay quiet through the rest of May. The season officially begins June 1.
ON THIS DATE IN 1883: A massive tornado outbreak in Illinois affected the northern and central parts of the state. At least 14 strong to violent tornadoes touched down, killing 52 people.
ON THIS DATE IN 1980: Mount Saint Helens erupted, spewing ash and smoke 63,000 feet into the air. Heavy ash covered the ground to the immediate northwest, and small particles were carried to the Atlantic coast.
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