RADAR CHECK: Strong storms are on the Alabama/Georgia state line at mid-afternoon. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for parts of Chambers County as I write this update. New showers and storms are forming near the Tennessee River. We expect a marked increase in the number of thunderstorms over the next few hours, and where storms do form they could be severe in spots, with potential for strong winds, heavy rain and lots of lightning. The Storm Prediction Center maintains a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) for much of north and central Alabama, with a marginal risk (level 1) for the rest of the state.Thunderstorms should begin to fade and weaken after 10 p.m. as the atmosphere becomes more stable.

FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND: The weather trends drier Friday through the weekend with only isolated afternoon storms. Expect mostly sunny, hot, humid days with highs generally in the low 90s Friday and mid 90s Saturday and Sunday.

NEXT WEEK: It looks like your typical summer week in Alabama with an upper ridge in place — partly sunny, hot, humid days with widely scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Highs will be in the 90s, lows in the 70s.TROPICS: Again today all is quiet across the Atlantic basin, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the next five days.

ON THIS DATE IN 1983: At Vostok Station in Antarctica, the temperature dropped to 128.6 degrees below zero. This reading is the coldest temperature ever recorded.

ON THIS DATE IN 1987: An F4 tornado ravages the Teton Wilderness and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The tornado’s violent winds destroy millions of trees on a 24.3-mile track that traverses the Continental Divide at an elevation of 10,170 feet.

BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.

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