July 4 forecast: How hot will it be? Fireworks weather?
The forecast for July 4 looks fairly typical for Alabama in the summertime: Hot and humid with a chance for scattered rain and storms.
Temperatures will be a bit hotter than what’s typical for this point in July, and heat advisories will be in effect for much of the state, according to the National Weather Service.
Air temperatures will rise into the mid-90s for much of Alabama both today and on Thursday. Combine that with higher humidity levels and it will feel much hotter.
The heat index, or “feels like” temperature, will peak at between 105 and 110 degrees both today and Thursday for most of Alabama.
At the coast there will be a low risk for rip currents on Independence Day, but that will change over the weekend, when the forecast risk will rise to high and swimming in the Gulf will be discouraged. Here’s the forecast for the next few days:
Expect the risk for rip currents to increase to moderate on Friday and then high over the weekend. Thursday will have a low risk, however.NWS
As far as rain goes, look for scattered rain and storms statewide both today and Thursday.
Look for rain chances to be highest in the morning along the coast on Thursday, similar to today. That rain could push inland during the daytime hours, according to the weather service.
Not everyone in the rest of the state will get rain, and chances will decrease after sunset — and hopefully in time for fireworks shows.
No organized severe weather is in the forecast for Alabama for the next several days.
Here’s the forecast for the 12 hours ending at 7 p.m. Thursday:

Here are the rain chances for the 12 hours ending at 7 p.m. Thursday.NWS