RADAR CHECK: We have your classic case of random, scattered showers and thunderstorms across Alabama this afternoon. Some spots are seeing heavy rain, gusty winds and loud thunder; other places are hot and dry. Where showers are in progress temperatures are in the upper 70s and 80s; away from rain we have low to mid 90s. Showers will fade after sunset and the low tonight will be in the 70s.

The weather won’t change much Tuesday — partly sunny with the chance of a passing shower or storm, mostly during the afternoon and evening. The high will be in the low to mid 90s.

Scattered showers and storms will begin to increase on Wednesday as the air becomes more unstable, and by Thursday and Friday we expect numerous showers and storms. As always in summer, rain distribution won’t be very even, but the chance of rain for your front yard is 55-65% Wednesday and near 70% Thursday and Friday. Highs drop into the 85- to 90-degree range Thursday and Friday because of clouds and rain.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: The weather stays unsettled, with a good chance of occasional showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. The weekend won’t be a washout by any means, but rain is likely at times with highs only in the mid 80s.

We don’t expect much change through much of next week, with the opportunity of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms daily. This pattern has the potential to bring beneficial rain to the state; reliable guidance from the European global model suggests a little more than 4 inches for much of Alabama through the rest of July. Highs next week will be in the 80s in the northern two-thirds of the state, well below average.

TROPICS: The Atlantic basin remains very quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the next seven days.

ON THIS DATE IN 1901: The city of Marquette, Michigan, set its all-time record high temperature with 108 degrees.

ON THIS DATE IN 2003: Hurricane Claudette made landfall along the middle Texas coast near Port O’Connor with winds of 85 mph. Two deaths (both from falling trees or tree limbs) were attributed to Claudette.

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