THIS WEEK: We’re experiencing a mix of weather patterns, with ridging to our west and troughing to our east and north, leading to waves of rain and storms across Alabama to start off the work week. Rain and storms will be more likely over the eastern half, while the west also sees a good chance of precipitation. Highs will range from the upper 80s to the lower 90s. On Tuesday, rain chances decrease slightly; any activity that does form will primarily be over the eastern half. Unfortunately, the summer heat intensifies, with highs reaching the lower to mid-90s and heat indices potentially 10 degrees higher than the actual temperature.

By Wednesday, stronger ridging to our west will push daytime highs even higher. Though a few scattered showers and storms are possible, most locations will stay dry. Heat advisories are likely as high humidity makes temperatures in the mid to upper 90s feel like 105-109 degrees. Thursday and Friday will follow a similar pattern with high heat and humidity, and a small chance of scattered showers and storms in the afternoons. Highs will remain in the mid to upper 90s.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: High temperatures will start to decrease on Saturday as a surface front approaches, increasing rain chances slightly and bringing highs down to the lower to mid-90s. These conditions will persist into Sunday, with the front lingering in the state, leading to scattered showers and storms and highs in the upper 80s to lower 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 couple of days. Environmental conditions are forecast to become conducive for some development thereafter, and a tropical depression could form mid to late week while the system is in the vicinity of the northern Leeward Islands, Greater Antilles, southwestern Atlantic Ocean or the southeastern Bahamas. The formation chance through the next seven days is 40%.

ON THIS DATE IN 1981: Fifty cattle, each weighing 800 pounds, were killed by lightning near Vance, Alabama. The lightning struck a tree and then spread along the ground, killing the cattle.

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