A large part of Alabama has the potential to see a few strong to severe storms starting later this afternoon and into tonight.

Most of today is expected to be dry, but the National Weather Service is forecasting some storms to develop ahead of a cold front later today.

Forecasters said any stronger storm that develops could bring along with it wind gusts as high as 60 mph and large hail. The tornado risk is not zero but on the low side.

Storms are expected to approach Alabama from the northwest starting this afternoon and drop southward through the nighttime hours.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a Level 2 out of 5 (slight) risk for severe weather in Alabama that includes all of north Alabama and much of central Alabama (see the severe weather outlook at the top of this post).

A Level 2 risk means that scattered severe storms will be possible.

Areas to the south are in a Level 1 risk and could have to deal with isolated severe storms.

No severe weather is expected in south Alabama.

North Alabama could get storms first. The National Weather Service in Huntsville thinks storms could reach northwest Alabama between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. today and then track to the south and east through the evening.

Here’s the forecast for north Alabama:

The weather service in Birmingham is forecasting storms to reach the northern part of central Alabama between 5 p.m.and 9 p.m. and drop southward through early Friday morning.

Here’s the outlook for central Alabama:

No severe weather is expected in south Alabama, but the northern part of the region could see some rain. Here’s the Thursday night forecast for the area:

A secondary front is expected to move through the state on Friday, but only a low chance of showers is expected with it.

Drier and cooler weather is expected starting on Saturday, and no rain or storms are in the forecast after Friday through the middle of next week.