ACTIVE WEEKEND: A surface front will begin to move into northwestern Alabama and progress southeastward through the day. Clouds will increase from the west, and scattered to numerous showers and storms will be likely as the front pushes through the state. Some heavy rain is possible, and a few flooding issues may happen thanks to poor drainage. No severe weather is expected, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we have a couple strong storms at some point. Highs will be in the mid 80s to the lower 90s.

A ridge starts to build over the Southeast on Sunday that will eventually lead to smaller rain chances during the work week, but rain and storms will be likely at times throughout the day. Again, severe weather is not likely, but a strong storm or two will be possible. Highs will be in the lower 80s to the lower 90s.

THE WORK WEEK: Rain and storms will again be likely on Monday with highs in the mid 80s to the lower 90s. Tuesday will be similar, with highs in the upper 80s to the lower 90s.

On Wednesday, we’ll see the ridge finally start to take control of our weather. Heat will begin to rise and rain and storm chances begin to fall. Scattered showers and storms are highly possible, but not as likely as in the previous few days. Highs will be in the upper 80s to the mid 90s.

On Thursday and Friday, we get back to a weather pattern we expect for this time of year — mostly sunny with a chance of a few scattered showers and storms during the afternoon and early evening, and highs in the lower to mid 90s.

TROPICS: An area of disturbed weather over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean is expected to interact with an approaching tropical wave during the next several days. Some development of this system is possible while it approaches the Lesser Antilles during the early to middle part of next week and moves generally west-northwestward near the Greater Antilles toward the latter part of the week. The Global Forecast System (GFS) brings the system into the Gulf of Mexico, making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana state line on the morning of Aug. 6. However, we have a good while before the actual forecast track is determined, and we have to wait for the system to become better organized before that will happen. The European model shows the system moving in the same general direction, but much weaker than the GFS.

ON THIS DATE IN 1987: Thunderstorms in Minnesota spawned a tornado that moved southwest for 30 miles across Rice County and Goodhue County. Trees were uprooted and tossed about like toys, and a horse lifted by the tornado was observed sailing horizontally through the air. Thunderstorms drenched La Crosse, Wisconsin, with 5.26 inches of rain, its second-highest 24-hour total on record.

For more weather news and information from James Spann, Scott Martin and other members of the James Spann team, visit AlabamaWx.