THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Showers and thunderstorms are expected across north and central Alabama this weekend, especially during the afternoons and early evenings. Some of these storms could become strong to severe, with the primary threats being damaging wind gusts, hail and heavy rainfall.

Today, northern Alabama is most likely to see storm development between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m., with the heat index potentially exceeding 105 degrees before the storms arrive. On Sunday, the risk of severe storms extends across a broader area. Damaging winds and quarter-sized hail are possible.

Residents across north and central Alabama should stay alert to changing weather conditions this weekend, particularly during the late afternoon and evening, when storms are most likely to occur.

SATURDAY: Thunderstorms will develop late morning into the afternoon, with the strongest activity expected from northern Alabama down toward Clanton and Alex City. Expect mostly sunny skies in the morning, with a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. It will be humid, with highs in the mid-90s, and the heat index could reach 110 degrees.

SUNDAY-MONDAY: Sunday could see more storms, especially in the afternoon. By Monday, cooler and drier air will filter in, bringing a break from the oppressive heat. Highs will reach only the mid to upper 80s, and the humidity will drop noticeably.

MIDWEEK: Tuesday through Thursday looks pleasant, with high pressure bringing mostly sunny skies and comfortable temperatures. Expect highs in the mid-80s and overnight lows in the upper 50s to low 60s, a welcome respite from the summer heat.

LATE WEEK: By Friday, moisture will start to creep back into the region, leading to increasing clouds and a slight chance of showers. Highs will remain in the mid to upper 80s.

Next weekend could see another round of storms as a new system approaches. Early indications suggest Saturday could be wet.

TROPICS: Hurricane Ernesto is battering Bermuda, with the island experiencing the full force of the southern eyewall. Bermuda is facing hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding and a dangerous storm surge that could inundate coastal areas. Power outages and structural damage are likely widespread across the island. Ernesto’s slow movement means that these hazardous conditions will persist through much of the morning before the storm begins to pull away later today.

As Ernesto moves northeastward away from Bermuda this afternoon, the focus will shift to the U.S. East Coast, the Bahamas and Atlantic Canada, where swells generated by the hurricane will create dangerous surf and rip currents through the weekend. Cleanup and recovery efforts will begin in Bermuda once the storm has fully passed.

MOON MAGIC: Mark your calendars for a rare celestial event Monday night: a supermoon blue moon. The moon will rise at 7:47 p.m., offering a spectacular view. This phenomenon occurs when a full moon is both a supermoon, appearing 30% brighter and 14% larger than usual, and a blue moon, the third full moon in a season with four. Though it won’t actually be blue, the moon will be a stunning sight, especially as it rises.

ON THIS DATE IN 1969: Hurricane Camille was moving through the Gulf of Mexico, 250 miles south of the Alabama coast. Originally expected to hit the Florida Panhandle, Camille shifted west, prompting emergency warnings along the Gulf Coast. An Air Force reconnaissance flight recorded a record-low barometric pressure of 901 millibars and winds of 190 mph, signaling catastrophic destruction ahead. When Camille made landfall in Pass Christian, Mississippi, with 200 mph winds and a 27-foot storm surge, 143 people perished along the coast, with another 113 dying in the Appalachian Mountains due to flash floods. Camille caused more than $1 billion in damages and was later described as “the greatest storm of any kind ever to have affected the mainland of the United States.”

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