Tuesday remains quiet other than some breezy southerly winds.  Expect partly to mostly sunny skies and warmer afternoon highs Tuesday: mid 60s. However, by early Wednesday morning, an unsettled pattern returns to North Alabama.

A strong system will bring increasing shower and thunderstorm chances before sunrise Wednesday morning. Rain will stick around for the entire day, with the best chance for thunderstorms by the afternoon. There will be just enough instability and plenty of wind energy in the atmosphere for perhaps a few stronger storms. Areas west of I-65 are under an Isolated risk to see these strong to severe storms.

The main concerns with any stronger storms will be gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Regardless of the risk for strong storms, rain all day will cause problems for those still traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday. The good news is much of the rain will move out of North Alabama Wednesday night.

The cold front responsible for Wednesday's storms looks to stall to our southeast. This means a stray shower or two is possible over Sand Mountain Thanksgiving morning. Otherwise, if you are having outdoor gatherings Thursday, you'll see a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the mid to upper 60s.

Even more rain chances are back in the forecast Friday through next Monday. Several disturbances will ride along the stalled frontal boundary to our south beginning Friday. 

When all is said done, rainfall amounts will be substantial. Much of the area will see nearly three inches of rain over the next seven days. Some locally higher amounts closer to four inches are possible mainly for areas over Sand Mountain as well. Stay weather aware this week and check back for updates as we continue to fine tune your holiday forecast.