Isolated severe storms will be possible across the northern half of Alabama starting on Thursday afternoon.

There will also be chances for severe storms in parts of the state on Friday and Saturday too.

The upside: The rain could help cut the heat, at least a little, in parts of the state where the temperature could climb into the upper 90s today and tomorrow.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has added a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe weather for areas from roughly Birmingham northward. The timeframe is Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.

A Level 1 risk means that isolated severe storms will be possible. The strongest storms could have damaging wind gusts, hail and heavy rain, according to forecasters.

The National Weather Service will be on alert for the possibility of a complex of storms (a mesoscale convective system or MCS), to move southward out of Tennessee later today and into northern Alabama.

There is also the outside chance that a second storm complex makes it into the state, but that is more uncertain.

More storms will be possible on Friday and Saturday, and the Storm Prediction Center has added Level 1 risks for parts of the states both days.

Here’s the forecast for Friday, when there will be a Level 1 risk for the northeast corner of the state:

The forecast for Saturday has more of eastern Alabama in a Level 1 risk:

More typical summertime weather is expected starting next week, with near-average temperatures and daily afternoon chances for scattered rain and storms.