DELIGHTFUL SPRING DAY: With a sunny sky, temperatures are generally between 65 and 73 degrees across Alabama this afternoon. The sky will remain mostly clear tonight with a low between 46 and 52 degrees. Tuesday will be dry and warmer. With a partly sunny sky afternoon temperatures will reach the low 80s in many areas.

MIDWEEK STORMS: Wednesday will be warm and windy, with a high in the low to mid 80s. Most of the day will be dry, but a band of storms will push into the state Wednesday night. While the surface-based instability is very limited, the approaching system will have very strong wind fields, and strong to severe thunderstorms are possible statewide.

The Storm Prediction Center has defined an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for much of west Alabama with this event, for areas west of a line from Haleyville to Birmingham to Jackson. A slight risk (level 2 of 5) is for areas as far east as Huntsville, Montgomery and Andalusia, and the eastern counties are in a marginal risk (level 1 of 5).TIMING: The line of severe storms will likely enter west Alabama in the 5-6 p.m. time frame, then sweep eastward Wednesday night. Storms will linger after midnight over the eastern counties, but they will be weakening at that time. The main window for the I-65 corridor will be from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

THREATS: The main concern will come from damaging winds with the line of storms. Winds could exceed 65 mph in spots, and we can’t rule out a couple of tornadoes within the line as well, with the higher severe weather probabilities over the western half of the state. Some hail is possible but is not expected to be widespread.

GRADIENT WIND: Non-thunderstorm winds could gust to 40-45 mph at times Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night before the storm arrives. Higher gusts will be on the ridges and across the western half of the state.FLOODING: Rain amounts of 1-2 inches are likely, and with the saturated soil conditions some flooding problems could develop. We don’t expect the 5- to 6-inch totals like we had last week with the storms over east Alabama.Events like this are common in Alabama during March and April. Have two reliable ways of learning severe weather warnings (NOAA Weather Radio and emergency alerts on your phone), and a plan of action if you are in the polygon. In your safe place have helmets for everyone, and if you live in a mobile home know the nearest shelter location and how to get there quickly.

REST OF THE WEEK AND THE WEEKEND: Look for a clearing sky Thursday with a high around 70. We expect the dry weather to continue Friday and over the weekend with mostly sunny, pleasant days and clear, cool nights. Highs will be between 68 and 72 degrees, with lows mostly in the 40s. Colder spots will see 30s early Friday morning.

NEXT WEEK: Monday will be dry, but the next storm system will bring rain and thunderstorms back to the state late Tuesday and Tuesday night, ending Wednesday morning. It’s too early to know whether this will be a severe weather threat.

ON THIS DATE IN 1920: Twenty people were killed by a tornado, estimated at F4 strength, that moved through Elmore, Tallapoosa and Chambers counties in east Alabama. The greatest destruction was in Tallapoosa County in the vicinity of Susanna, Agricola and Red Ridge. The tornado was on the ground for more than 65 miles.

ON THIS DATE IN 1963: A decision was handed down in the case of Whitney Bartie vs. the United States of America. Bartie sued the U.S. Weather Bureau for negligence in failing to provide a warning about Hurricane Audrey in 1957. Bartie’s wife and five children were killed after the 12-foot storm surge struck Cameron Parish, Louisiana, on the morning of June 27, 1957. It was ruled that the evidence presented did not establish negligence on the part of the Weather Bureau.

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