While we desperately need the rain, the dry weather makes for rather nice outdoor plans. Afternoon high temperatures will continue to rise slightly each day this week, reaching the middle to upper 80s by week’s end, with morning temperatures hovering in the 50s during the night and early mornings.

THE NEXT BIG THING will be near-record warmth on Thursday and Friday. The record high for Birmingham Thursday is 86° (1927), for Tuscaloosa 86° (2010), and Anniston 84° (2016).