textproduct: NWS Birmingham

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1245 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026

- There is a very high chance (greater than 90%) for freezing temperatures late tonight through sunrise Wednesday for all of Central Alabama.

- A significant warming trend will take hold through the rest of the week.

DISCUSSION

(This afternoon through Monday) Issued at 1245 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026

Cold advection will gradually wane today and transition to warm advection on Wednesday as a longwave trough axis progresses toward the East Coast over the next 72 hours. A surface ridge axis will settle into the region tonight with light winds and initially clear skies. An upstream shortwave embedded within northwesterly flow, will bring a mid-level cloud deck after midnight which should time limit radiational cooling. A freeze in the 28-32 degree range is expected for almost all of the forecast area. Frost should also be widespread in some places.

A major warming trend is expected through the rest of the week as low-level flow turns southwesterly and 500 mb flow becomes more zonal. Afternoon highs are expected to reach the 80s over the weekend, which is about 35 degrees warmer than today. No rain is expected through Sunday.

87/Grantham

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1245 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026

VFR conditions are expected for the next 24 hours. Northwest winds of 8 to 12 knots will become light and variable around 00Z.

87/Grantham

FIRE WEATHER

RH values will fall to around 20 percent this afternoon, and sustained 20 foot winds should range from 6 to 9 mph. Winds will become light and variable tonight, followed by a shift to light southerly winds Wednesday afternoon. RH values are expected to fall to around 25 percent on Wednesday afternoon. No rain is currently expected for the next seven days.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Gadsden 46 28 57 31 / 0 10 10 0 Anniston 47 30 58 35 / 0 10 10 0 Birmingham 49 32 59 39 / 0 10 10 0 Tuscaloosa 50 32 61 39 / 0 10 10 0 Calera 50 31 60 36 / 0 10 0 0 Auburn 49 32 58 37 / 0 10 10 0 Montgomery 52 31 60 35 / 0 0 0 0 Troy 52 29 60 33 / 0 0 0 0

BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Warning until 10 AM CDT Wednesday 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-Winston.