Scorching heat is again in the forecast for Alabama for Sunday, and the next few days.
But there could — possibly — be some relief on the horizon for at least part of the state.
The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for parts of south Alabama today, and temperatures are expected to be very hot across the rest of the state as well.
Highs today are forecast to reach the mid- to upper 90s in many places. Add increasing humidity levels to those temperatures and spots in south Alabama could feel like 110 degrees this afternoon. Those areas will be under a heat advisory until 7 p.m. today.
The counties in the heat advisory are Choctaw, Washington, Clarke, Escambia, Covington, Mobile and Baldwin.
The rest of Alabama will be hot and humid as well, but the heat index is not expected to reach heat advisory levels, according to the weather service.
Here’s the temperature forecast for Sunday:
High temperatures on Sunday are expected to rise well into the 90s.NWS
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday look to be similar in terms of heat and humidity for Alabama — but then something changes.
The weather service is forecasting temperatures to back off a bit starting on Thursday. Think highs in the upper 80s and low 90s compared with mid- to upper 90s. There could be better chances for rain too.
Here’s the forecast for Thursday:
Highs on Thursday will be not quite as hot.NWS
More of the same is expected on Friday and Saturday, which is the end of the weather service’s forecast period.
But then comes some tantalizing news from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, which issues longer-range outlooks.
The six- to 10-day temperature outlook contains some hopeful news — the possibility of below-average temperatures for some of Alabama:
Here is the six- to 10-day temperature outlook.CPC
The areas in north Alabama in a darker shade of blue are forecast to have a 40-50 percent probability of below-average temperatures.
It’s not all good news, however. The probabilities get lower as you head southward, and coastal Alabama will still have an increased probability of above-average temperatures. The forecast period is July 19-23.
The eight- to 14-day outlook has more of the same:
There is a chance that parts of Alabama could have below-average temperatures through July 27.CPC
The outlooks suggest temperatures could be lower than average — for mid-July. No coats and sweaters needed just yet.