RADAR CHECK: Scattered showers are in progress at mid-afternoon across parts of north Alabama, mostly between Birmingham and Huntsville. Scattered showers are also over parts of Baldwin County, mainly south of I-10, and over a few southeast Alabama counties. But most of the state is hot and dry, with temperatures in the low to mid 90s. Scattered showers will end after sunset and the sky will be mostly fair tonight.

The weather won’t change much Thursday. It will be partly sunny, hot and humid with a few widely scattered showers and storms from about 2 until 10 p.m. The high will stay between 91 and 95 degrees for most communities.

FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND: We expect an increase in the number of showers and storms over the northern half of the state on these three days as a surface front will drift down toward the Alabama/Tennessee border. The Storm Prediction Center maintains a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) of severe thunderstorms across the Tennessee Valley of north Alabama Friday due to the potential for strong winds.

It won’t rain everywhere, but most places across north and central Alabama should see a few decent downpours Friday through Sunday. With a mix of sun and clouds look for a high between 88 and 92 degrees; south Alabama will be hotter and drier, with only isolated afternoon storms over the weekend.

NEXT WEEK: Looks like routine summer weather through the week as August begins — hot, humid days with scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and storms. Highs will be in the low to mid 90s.

TROPICS: Conditions remain very calm across the Atlantic basin, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the next five days.

RAIN UPDATE: Here are rain totals since Jan. 1, and the departure from average:

• Birmingham — 45.88 inches (10.87 inches above average)
• Mobile — 37.15 (2.56 inches below average)
• Tuscaloosa — 35.97 (3.92 above average)
• Huntsville — 35.2 (2.23 above average)
• Anniston — 34.2 (1.8 above average)
• Montgomery — 33.41 (2.42 above average)
• Dothan — 33.05 (1 inch above average)
• Muscle Shoals — 32.94 (0.22 below average)

ON THIS DATE IN 1819: A hurricane affected the coast from Louisiana to Alabama. New Orleans was on the fringe of the storm and suffered no severe damage. Ships at the Balize experienced a strong gale for 24 hours that grounded three ships. Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne rose 5 to 6 feet during the storm, with farms along the lakes flooded by the storm tide. Forty-one lives were lost on the U.S. man-of-war schooner Firebrand, a 150-ton gunship, while it lay off the west end of Cat Island.

ON THIS DATE IN 1943: A “surprise” Category 2 hurricane moved ashore near Galveston, Texas. Because of World War II, all news underwent censorship, including any weather reports, making this the surprise storm. The hurricane killed 19 people and caused millions of dollars in damages. Lt. Col. Joe Duckworth and Lt. Ralph O’Hair flew an AT-6 Texan into the eye of the hurricane, the first flight into the eye of a storm.

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

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.