textproduct: NWS Birmingham

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1229 AM CDT FRI MAR 27 2026

- Fire danger will be high on Saturday across all of Central Alabama. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.

DISCUSSION

(Friday through next Thursday) Issued at 1028 PM CDT THU MAR 26 2026

Water vapor imagery this evening depicts a fairly active pattern across the country. The expansive ridge across the west is currently being suppressed by a shortwave trough pushing across the Midwest. Further north, another trough can be seen inching towards the US-Canada border. At the surface, a cold front can be analyzed stretching from the Ohio Valley back into the Southern Plains. This boundary will be sent our way through the day Friday, eventually stalling along the Gulf coast. We will continue with a low chance of rain on Friday due to overall lack of upper level support and meager moisture levels. The main concern with this front will be the surge of significantly drier air into the region. PWATs may fall to less than 0.20" on Saturday, especially across our northern areas. Northerly winds will be breezy on Saturday with gusts likely over 20 MPH. Latest guidance hints at a low to medium chance of gusts over 30 MPH, generally across our northern areas. A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for the entire CWA from Saturday morning through Saturday evening. An upgrade to a Red Flag Warning will be likely with Friday morning's forecast update.

The stalled boundary retreats back to the north on Sunday as upper ridging begins to build back in over the southeast. We begin to see rain chances return to the forecast by the middle of next week as a series of shortwaves eject across the Southern Plains.

Lastly, to touch on temperatures, another warm day is expected on Friday with highs climbing into the mid 80s for most. We trim off about 10-20 degrees on Saturday in the wake of the front. This cool snap doesn't last too long as we warm right back up early next week.

95/Castillo

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1233 AM CDT FRI MAR 27 2026

Nighttime satellite imagery indicates low clouds developing near the coast which will lift northward through the night. While some temporary fog may develop near the onset of the low clouds at MGM/AUO, low cigs should be the predominant aviation impact. Expect LIFR to IFR cigs at MGM/AUO, MVFR to IFR at EET, and MVFR at BHM. Cigs are more uncertain at TCL and will continue with a TEMPO group, though will note some HZ/BR has already been reported there. Cigs should become VFR by 14-16z on Friday. A cold front moves through during the late afternoon and evening hours. Probabilities for -SHRA are too low to mention in any TAF, but the front will bring gusty northerly winds and some MVFR cigs by Friday evening.

32/JDavis

FIRE WEATHER

Significantly drier air will move into the region on Saturday in the wake of a cold front. Min RH values will fall to near 20% during the afternoon hours. Northerly winds will be breezy on Saturday with gusts likely over 20 MPH. Latest guidance hints at a low to medium chance of gusts over 30 MPH, generally across our northern areas. A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for all of Central Alabama on Saturday. Moisture begins to recover on Sunday with min RHs in the 40-50% range daily through the middle of the work week.

CLIMATE

Issued at 1028 PM CDT THU MAR 26 2026

Record High Temperatures:

March 27: KEET: 85/2012 KANB: 84/1994 KTCL: 86/2021

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Gadsden 83 39 66 40 / 20 10 0 0 Anniston 84 41 67 41 / 10 10 0 0 Birmingham 84 43 67 46 / 10 10 0 0 Tuscaloosa 84 43 69 44 / 10 10 0 0 Calera 84 43 69 43 / 10 10 0 0 Auburn 84 47 70 44 / 0 10 0 0 Montgomery 85 50 72 47 / 0 10 0 0 Troy 85 52 72 48 / 0 0 0 0

BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through Saturday evening for the following counties: Autauga-Barbour-Bibb-Blount- Bullock-Calhoun-Chambers-Cherokee-Chilton-Clay-Cleburne-Coosa- Dallas-Elmore-Etowah-Fayette-Greene-Hale-Jefferson-Lamar-Lee- Lowndes-Macon-Marengo-Marion-Montgomery-Perry-Pickens-Pike- Randolph-Russell-Shelby-St. Clair-Sumter-Talladega-Tallapoosa- Tuscaloosa-Walker.