textproduct: NWS Birmingham

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 640 PM CDT MON APR 20 2026

- Critically dry fuels, low daytime humidity, and periodic breezes will keep fire weather conditions elevated through Friday.

- A more active weather pattern begins heading into the weekend and should offer a few days' worth of opportunities for showers and thunderstorms.

DISCUSSION

(This afternoon through Sunday) Issued at 1240 PM CDT MON APR 20 2026

Fair weather is expected over the next few days as a 500 mb ridge axis approaches from the central U.S. Just ahead of it, a shortwave trough is shown to skirt across the Gulf Coast with just enough moisture to bring an increase in mid- to high-level cloudiness to Central Alabama from mid Tuesday into Wednesday.

The sub-tropical jet stream is forecast to become more active across our area from Saturday into next week, offering periodic showers and thunderstorms. The pattern should favor dew points rising into at least the low 60s, yielding weak to perhaps moderate instability + bouts of increased/veering flow aloft per GFS/ECMWF ensembles. Currently, the primary signal for severe thunderstorms is to our west; however, slight changes to the mid/upper level configuration and storm track could involve our area in some fashion at some point. This is just something to monitor. In the least, we'll have a few opportunities for much-needed rain.

89^GSatterwhite

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 640 PM CDT MON APR 20 2026

VFR TAFs are generally expected for the next 24 hours with surface ridging in control with light winds. There is a chance for some patchy river fog. There is a low probability that it could impact TCL vsbys in the 6-13z time frame, but will leave out for now.

NOTE: Spring seasonal issuance of the TAF for KASN is now being issued and will run through 04/29 18z.

08

FIRE WEATHER

Afternoon humidity levels will be close to critical values over the next few days. Fortunately, winds are forecast to remain in check. Periodic chances for showers and thunderstorms start heading into this weekend and look to persist into next week.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Gadsden 44 81 50 81 / 0 0 0 0 Anniston 47 81 53 82 / 0 0 0 0 Birmingham 52 82 58 82 / 0 0 0 0 Tuscaloosa 49 82 56 83 / 0 0 0 0 Calera 49 83 55 83 / 0 0 0 0 Auburn 52 81 58 82 / 0 0 0 0 Montgomery 49 83 58 83 / 0 0 0 0 Troy 49 82 55 83 / 0 0 0 0

BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.