James Spann forecasts classic summer weather for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

LATE JULY IN ALABAMA: We expect very routine summer weather across Alabama this week. An upper ridge is parked across the southern U.S., with the mid-latitude westerlies (the jet stream) on top of the heat ridge over the northern states. This will set the stage for partly sunny, hot, humid days with random, scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoons and evenings, mostly between around 2 and 10 p.m. Odds of any one spot getting wet most days will be 30-40%. We do expect higher coverage later this week over the Tennessee Valley of north Alabama, close to a stalled surface front just to the north. Afternoon highs will be mostly between 90 and 94 degrees, right at seasonal averages for late July.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: We don’t see much change in the overall pattern as hot, humid summer weather continues. Showers and storms will be most active over the northern half of the state with the stalled surface front near the Tennessee state line, but, as always in summer, rain distribution will be uneven. Look for a mix of sun and clouds Saturday and Sunday with highs between 88 and 92 degrees.

NEXT WEEK: We will stick with a standard summer forecast as August begins — partly sunny days, fair nights and scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms daily. Highs will hold mostly in the low to mid 90s.

TROPICS: Again the vast Atlantic basin is very quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected this week. But the peak of the season comes in August, September and early October. Most tropical outlooks still suggest an active season.

ON THIS DATE IN 1936: Lincoln, Nebraska, saw an all-time high temperature of 115 degrees. The low only dropped to 91 degrees and the average temperature was 103. Many people spent the night sleeping outside to escape the heat.

ON THIS DATE IN 2005: The residents of Sand Point, Alaska, saw a rare tornado touchdown on two uninhabited islands. Sand Point is part of the Aleutian Chain and is about 570 miles southwest of Anchorage.

BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.

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