Published On: 05.17.23 | 

By: James Spann

James Spann: Showers, storms fire up again today across Alabama

James Spann has the midweek forecast for Alabama from Alabama News Center on Vimeo.

RADAR CHECK: A few showers are over northwest Alabama just before daybreak; otherwise, most of the state is dry with a mostly cloudy sky and temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. Like recent days, showers and storms will fire up, and they will be most active this afternoon and early tonight. The Storm Prediction Center maintains a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) of severe thunderstorms for about the southern two-thirds of the state.

Heavier thunderstorms today will be capable of producing strong, gusty winds, small hail, heavy rain and lots of lightning. Otherwise, today will be occasionally cloudy with a high between 77 and 81 degrees.

Scattered showers and storms are likely again Thursday, but they should be a little fewer in number Friday. Highs will remain in the upper 70s and low 80s, which is below average for mid-May in Alabama.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: A surface front will pass through the state Saturday, and a few passing showers or thunderstorms are likely. It won’t rain all day, and it won’t rain everywhere. Saturday’s high will remain close to 80 degrees. Then a drier, continental air mass will drop into the state Sunday with lower humidity and a mostly sunny sky. The high Sunday will be in the low 80s.

NEXT WEEK: A few isolated afternoon showers can’t be ruled out, but for now it looks like much of next week will be dry, with mostly sunny days and fair nights. Highs will be in the 80s, with lows in the 60s.TROPICS: While the hurricane season doesn’t begin until June 1, the National Hurricane Center is already issuing seven-day outlooks for the Atlantic basin. All is quiet for now.

ON THIS DATE IN 1896: An estimated F5 tornado tracked 100 miles through northeastern Kansas and extreme southeastern Nebraska. Seneca, Oneida, Sabetha and Reserve, Kansas, sustained severe damage. While passing through Reserve, the tornado was 2 miles wide. Twenty-five people were killed and 200 were injured.

ON THIS DATE IN 1979: A reading of 12 degrees at Mauna Kea Observatory established a record low for the state of Hawaii.

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