RADAR CHECK: The thunderstorm lottery is underway across Alabama this afternoon; showers and storms have formed in the hot, humid air mass in random places, generally drifting westward. Away from the showers, temperatures are between 91 and 95 degrees with a partly sunny sky. Scattered storms end after sunset.REST OF THE WEEK: We don’t expect any real change as the upper high remains parked over the region. Look for partly sunny, hot, humid days with random, scattered showers and storms mostly between 2 and 10 p.m. The chance of any one spot seeing rain each day will remain 20-30%. Highs will be generally in the mid 90s.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK: The core of the upper high will shift to the west again, meaning heat levels will come down a bit and coverage of afternoon storms could be a little higher. But the overall idea remains the same for the weekend and next week — partly sunny days; scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and storms, and highs around 90 degrees.

TROPICS: Tropical storm/hurricane formation is not expected across the Atlantic basin for the next seven days. The peak of the season comes most years in August and September.

DID YOU KNOW? Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. It kills about 20 people annually in the U.S.; hundreds more are severely injured. No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area; when you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.

ON THIS DATE IN 1925: A large hailstone weighing a half-pound fell at Plumstead, just outside London, England. This hailstone was the heaviest ever recorded in the United Kingdom.

ON THIS DATE IN 1937: The temperature at Medicine Lake, Montana, soared to 117 degrees to tie the state record. Glendive, Montana, had reached 117 degrees on July 20, 1893.

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.

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Odds of any one place getting wet are 30-40% most of the week.

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