FIRST ALERT: Tracking a few thunderstorms Thursday afternoon

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - We will continue tracking spotty showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Expect temperatures in the lower to mid 90s. The rain will quickly knock the temperatures into the mid 80s if you're lucky enough to see a shower. Remember this time of year we can still have significant cloud to ground lightning. Make sure you go inside if you hear thunder.

If you plan on attending the Barons game tonight at 7:05 p.m., we can’t rule out a stray shower or storm. Temperatures will likely start in the mid 80s and slowly cool off into the lower 80s. We’ll wake up with temperatures cooling off into the mid 70s Friday morning.

First Alert: An upper-level disturbance will mean a better chance for rain this weekend. Rain chances Friday into Saturday around 50-70%. By early next week, a rare July cold front will try to move into the Southeast enhancing our rain chances around 60%. We will see somewhat drier weather for Friday evening.

Rainfall Potential: The Weather Prediction Center is forecasting 1-3 inches of rain possible for North and Central Alabama over the next seven days. With abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions in play, this will definitely help us out a little.

Next Big Thing: With increasing rain chances and higher cloud cover, temperatures will likely trend below average for most of next week. Highs could remain in the mid to upper 80s starting Sunday. A cold front will try to move into Central Alabama by Tuesday night possible cooling our temperatures down. Still way too early to know for sure if a cold front will make it this far south. If it does, we could be waking up with low temperatures in the low to mid 60s and highs in the low to mid 80s Wednesday into Thursday. If this happens, it will feel great with lower humidity.

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