James Spann forecasts an extended dry period for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

COOL DAYS; COLD NIGHTS: With a mix of sun and clouds today, we project a high between 51 and 55 degrees this afternoon, about 10 degrees below average for mid-November in Alabama. Tonight will be clear and cold, with temperatures dropping into the upper 20s early Thursday morning.

Dry weather continues through the weekend with sunny, cool days and clear, cold nights. The high will be close to 50 Thursday, followed by low to mid 50s Friday through Sunday. Lows will stay below freezing, with most places somewhere between 25 and 32 degrees each morning.

NEXT WEEK: Dry weather continues Monday through Wednesday with afternoon temperatures reaching the low 60s by midweek. The next chance of rain will come late in the week; global models now suggest a good chance of rain and possible thunderstorms by Friday, with most of Thanksgiving Day being dry. It’s too early to know how much rain to expect, or whether there will be a risk of strong storms.TROPICS: All remains quiet across the Atlantic basin, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend. Hurricane season ends in two weeks, at the end of the month.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Expect clear, cold conditions for the high school playoff games Friday night, with temperatures in the 40s.

Saturday, Alabama will host Austin Peay at Bryant-Denny Stadium (11 a.m. kickoff). The sky will be sunny with temperatures rising from near 49 degrees at kickoff into the mid 50s by the final whistle.

Auburn will host Western Kentucky at Jordan-Hare Stadium (3 p.m. kickoff). It will be sunny and about 55 degrees at kickoff, falling into the upper 40s by the fourth quarter.

Saturday night, UAB travels to Baton Rouge to take on LSU (kickoff at 8). Expect a cloudy sky with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees during the game. A few showers are possible during the day, but they should be over by game time.

ON THIS DATE IN 2006: An early-morning F3 tornado killed eight people, injured 20 others and left 100 people homeless in Riegelwood, North Carolina. This storm was the second-deadliest tornado in the state in the past 50 years.

ON THIS DATE IN 2011: An EF-1 tornado moved through parts of Macon and Lee counties in east Alabama. It caused extensive tree damage, which resulted in damage to dozens of homes and mobile homes on the western side of Auburn. Several residences were destroyed. The tornado crossed the southern edge of Auburn University’s campus and damaged homes and the baseball facilities at Auburn High School.

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.