A summer preview is in the forecast for Alabama this week.

The National Weather Service is forecasting hot temperatures starting on Wednesday, and forecasters said highs could reach record territory in the next few days.

Today’s highs are expected to be more seasonal, with 80s expected in south Alabama and 70s forecast for the rest of the state.

Here’s the forecast for today (Tuesday):

However, most of the state will definitely be feeling the heat starting on Wednesday.

Highs on Wednesday, shown at the top of this post, are forecast to reach the 80s statewide. Parts of south Alabama will get uncomfortably close to 90 degrees, and mid-80s are expected farther north into central Alabama.

Thursday could be a degree or two warmer, and the weather service is forecasting highs in the mid- to upper 80s for a large part of the state.

Here’s the forecast for Thursday:

Similar temperatures are expected in Alabama on both Friday and Saturday.

What is an average temperature for early April?

Here are the average temperatures for April 2 for several Alabama cities:

• Birmingham: 72 degrees
• Dothan 76 degrees
• Cullman: 68 degrees
• Hamilton: 72 degrees
• Highland Home: 75 degrees
• Huntsville: 71 degrees
• Mobile: 78 degrees
• Montgomery: 76 degrees
• Muscle Shoals: 71 degrees
• Russellville: 70 degrees
• Sylacauga: 72 degrees
• Troy: 74 degrees
• Tuscaloosa: 73 degrees

The weather service said a dome of high pressure anchored over the Atlantic near the Bahamas will cause the much-warmer temperatures in Alabama this week.

However, that high will lose its grip on the state by Sunday, allowing a cold front to come through.

Forecasters think that this week’s hot temperatures will be followed by a bout of below-average temperatures next week.

In fact, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a higher probability of below-average temperatures for Alabama through mid-April: