textproduct: NWS Birmingham

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1152 AM CDT TUE MAY 26 2026

- A Flood Watch is in effect for much of central Alabama through Tuesday evening.

- Additional periods of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are forecast through the week, with low to medium chances for isolated flash flooding or a strong thunderstorm.

DISCUSSION

(This afternoon through Monday) Issued at 1152 AM CDT TUE MAY 26 2026

A persistent rainy pattern is expected to continue through the remainder of the week and into the weekend. A strong cut-off upper low located in the vicinity of the Great Basin effectively blocks the synoptic pattern for much of the week. This will lead to status quo for our area with troughing just to our west and ridging to our east pulling in ample deep layer moisture from the Gulf. Predictability is low on the location of the rain and thunderstorms each day due to the weak surface forcing; however, overall coverage of showers and storms will mean that generally over 60-70% of locations will see rain each day with the highest coverage during the afternoons.

With the humid air mass in place, fog and/or low clouds can be expected overnight each night in areas that see the heaviest rainfall the previous day.

As we see several days of rainfall over the same locations, there's increasing chances for isolated flooding concerns as the soils become saturated, and therefore we could see quicker rises on area creeks and streams.

25/Owen

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1152 AM CDT TUE MAY 26 2026

With the blocking pattern to our west, Central AL will remain under the influence of broad troughing to the west, which is pulling in deep moisture from the Gulf and providing for at least modest lift. This will lead to widespread cloud cover with rain and thunderstorms through the afternoon and evening hours. Expect MVFR CIGS through the day with brief pockets of VFR as we get some daytime mixing at play. Otherwise, expect increasing coverage of showers and storms to impact most terminals at some point this afternoon, though there's low confidence in the exact timing for each site. Tonight, expect a similar pattern of MVFR to IFR Cigs due to the abundant low level moisture.

25/Owen

FIRE WEATHER

The persistent wet pattern is expected to continue through the remainder of the week in Central AL. This pattern will lead to high rain chances each afternoon and the development of low clouds or fog each morning. Therefore, there are no fire weather concerns at this time.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Gadsden 81 66 84 65 / 80 40 50 50 Anniston 80 67 84 67 / 80 30 60 40 Birmingham 81 68 84 68 / 70 40 50 50 Tuscaloosa 82 69 85 69 / 60 30 60 40 Calera 82 68 86 67 / 80 30 50 40 Auburn 79 68 83 68 / 90 40 50 20 Montgomery 80 68 84 68 / 70 30 60 20 Troy 80 68 84 67 / 80 30 70 20

BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Flood Watch until 10 PM CDT this evening for the following counties: Autauga-Barbour-Bibb-Blount-Bullock-Calhoun-Chambers- Cherokee-Chilton-Clay-Cleburne-Coosa-Dallas-Elmore-Etowah-Hale- Jefferson-Lee-Lowndes-Macon-Marengo-Montgomery-Perry-Pike- Randolph-Russell-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega-Tallapoosa- Tuscaloosa-Walker.