MOSTLY CLOUDY AFTERNOON: While the sun has broken out in a few spots, the sky is generally cloudy across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures mostly between 67 and 74 degrees. There’s nothing on radar, and tonight will be dry with a low in the upper 50s and low 60s.Friday will be another mostly cloudy day across the state, and a disturbance could squeeze out a few spotty showers, mainly over the northern and eastern counties — nothing too widespread or heavy. The high will be in the upper 60s and low 70s.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: On Saturday, early morning clouds will give way to a partly to mostly sunny sky with a high in the 70s. Sunday will be breezy and much cooler, with a high only in the low to mid 60s. The sky will be occasionally cloudy, and a sprinkle or two can’t be ruled out as the cool air rushes into the state. A north wind of 10-20 mph will make it feel cooler. We drop into the 40s Monday morning.

NEXT WEEK: At this point the week looks cool and dry. Highs will be in the 60s through Wednesday, then in the low 70s Thursday and Friday.FOOTBALL WEATHER: For the high school games Friday night, the sky will be mostly cloudy with just a small risk of a shower. Temperatures will fall from near 70 at kickoff to the mid 60s by the final whistle.

Saturday, Alabama hosts Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium (11 a.m. kickoff). The sky will be partly to mostly sunny with temperatures rising from near 72 at kickoff into the mid 70s by the fourth quarter.

Auburn will be in Baton Rouge to take on LSU (6 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be clear with temperatures falling from near 76 at kickoff into the upper 60s by the final whistle.

UAB is also on the road, taking on UTSA in San Antonio (7 p.m. CT kickoff). The Roadrunners play their home games at the Alamodome, so weather won’t be an issue. But for the fans headed that way, Saturday in San Antonio will be sunny with a high in the mid 80s. It will be clear Saturday night with temperatures falling through the 70s after sunset.

TROPICS: Sean is now a weak, sheared tropical storm in the Atlantic (winds of 40 mph) about 905 miles west/southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. It will likely dissipate by Saturday far from land.Shower and thunderstorm activity is limited and disorganized this afternoon in association with a broad area of low pressure several hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands. While environmental conditions are only marginally favorable for slow development over the next couple of days, they are forecast to become more favorable by early next week. A tropical depression could form by the middle of next week as this system moves generally westward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center gives it a 40% chance of development.

SOLAR ECLIPSE SATURDAY: The annular solar eclipse (the path runs from parts of south Texas to Oregon) will be visible in Alabama as a partial eclipse. For Birmingham (and most of Alabama), it begins at 10:38 a.m., peaks at 12:08 p.m. and ends at 1:43 p.m. At the peak, 57.5% of the sun will be obscured by the moon. For now, it looks like the sky will be mostly clear during the event here. Be sure and use eclipse glasses from a reputable dealer. Never watch a solar eclipse with the naked eye or sunglasses.

ON THIS DATE IN 1962: The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 was a windstorm that struck the west coast of Canada and the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States. It is considered the benchmark of extratropical windstorms and ranks among the most intense to strike the region since at least 1948, likely since the Jan. 9, 1880, “Great Gale” and snowstorm.

ON THIS DATE IN 1979: The lowest barometric pressure ever recorded occurred in the center of Typhoon Tip. A fly reconnaissance mission recorded the low pressure of 870 hPa or 25.69 inHg. Typhoon Tip was the most extensive tropical cyclone on record with a wind diameter of 1,380 miles at its peak.

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