RADAR CHECK: There is very little on radar at midafternoon, but isolated showers and storms will likely form across Alabama over the next few hours. The best chance of a thunderstorm is south of a line from U.S. 82 (Tuscaloosa to Montgomery to Eufaula), where the Storm Prediction Center has defined a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) of severe storms. Like Wednesday, hail and strong winds are the main concern, but the storms shouldn’t be as numerous. Otherwise, today is another very hot June day with temperatures in the 90s statewide.

A surface front will bring a chance of widely scattered storms Friday afternoon and evening; the SPC has defined a marginal risk (level 1) east of a line from Florence to Troy to Abbeville. Again, the main threat will come from strong winds and hail. Away from the storms, the day will be hot again with a high in the mid to upper 90s for most places.THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Drier air will roll into the state Friday night, and the weekend will feature sunny days, lower humidity levels and cooler nights. Highs will be in the low 90s, and some of the cooler spots could reach the 50s early Sunday morning.

NEXT WEEK: The upper high strengthens, meaning rising heat and humidity levels again. Temperatures will be close to 100 degrees over the latter half of the week with only isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Temperatures will likely remain above average for the rest of June.TROPICS: Disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the western Caribbean Sea are associated with a trough of low pressure inland over eastern Honduras. Some slight development is possible tonight through Friday while the disturbance moves westward over the Gulf of Honduras. Subsequent development is unlikely once the system moves inland over northern Central America and southeastern Mexico Friday night. Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall is possible over Honduras, Belize and southeastern Mexico through the weekend.

The National Hurricane Center now gives this system only a 10% chance of development over the next five days. The Gulf of Mexico and the rest of the Atlantic basin remain very quiet.

ON THIS DATE IN 1806: The great American total solar eclipse occurred from California to Massachusetts, nearly five minutes in duration.

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