textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1120 PM CST Sun Jan 11 2026

- A slight warming trend early this week, before light rain chances return Wednesday. - Much colder air will push southeast into the area during the evening hours on Wednesday, possibly producing a mix of rain/snow changing to all snow towards daybreak on Thursday.

- Periodic rounds of much colder air are expected to continue into next weekend. Some additional light precipitation could occur next weekend.

NEAR TERM

(Today) Issued at 359 AM CST Mon Jan 12 2026

Early morning observations show a narrow band of high cirrus just south of the TN River with clear skies elsewhere. Clear conditions with light winds has allowed temps to fall down into the 20s across the Valley early this morning, so be sure to grab a jacket and dress warm if headed outside. Drier air has kept fog from forming this morning and will keep a dry forecast in place today. High pressure and large scale subsidence will keep temps on the cooler side with highs in the mid 40s to low 50s with only a few passing high clouds.

SHORT TERM

(Monday night through Wednesday) Issued at 1120 PM CST Sun Jan 11 2026

Warm air/moisture advection should continue to strengthen slightly as a cold front and surface low swings ESE from south central Canada into eastern Canada Monday night into Tuesday. This should push lows higher into the upper 20s to lower 30s Monday night.

During the day on Tuesday, the front settles further south into the Ohio Valley region, while a weak surface low develops over the western Gulf coast area. We will be in between the two where deeper drier air aloft resides. This should keep cloud cover mainly to our north and south through the day on Tuesday. With the strengthening advection and abundant sunshine, highs should be able to push into the 55 to 60 degree range.

By Tuesday night, both the front to our north and isentropic lift from the low to our southeast over the central Gulf coast region will produce mostly cloudy conditions over most of the area by the overnight hours. Moisture advection and warm air advection should keep temperatures from dropping below the 35 to 40 degree range mainly.

The cold front to our north continues to move south and eastward Wednesday morning. Some stronger forcing associated with a low level jet should be able to produce some fairly strong forcing and squeeze out some light precipitation along and ahead of this front by the afternoon hours in NW AL and southern middle Tennessee. The clouds and rainfall through the day will keep highs a bit cooler, but they still should be able to climb into the lower 50s in most locations. The front is a fairly slow mover Wednesday into Wednesday afternoon. However, as a strong upper low drops quickly southward from south central Canada during the afternoon into evening hours, very strong cold air advection drops south with it and accelerates the front eastward overnight.

LONG TERM

(Wednesday night through Sunday) Issued at 1120 PM CST Sun Jan 11 2026

Very breezy conditions are expected as well with cyclogenesis with this system as the upper low swings southward. Sustained winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts of 20 to 30 mph are expected to begin during the evening hours and continue overnight. We will need to monitor this period for Wind Advisory potential, but right now it looks just below criteria.

Models continue to show temperatures dropping into the 30s between 9 and 11 PM Wednesday night. This will likely be around the time lingering light precipitation behind the front could begin to change to all snow from north to south overnight. The good news is that ground temperatures are warm and air temperatures might not drop to below freezing until closer to 1 or 2 AM on Thursday. The moisture available in the atmospheric column may be pushing east of the area by then into the daybreak hours on Thursday. The exception to this might be around the Sewanee area and in some locations in southern middle Tennessee on the back side of the upper low.

Either way, accumulations look to be minimal given the warm ground temperatures. However, a trace to around one half of an inch of snowfall might be possible. Given this system is still a few days out, confidence is not high on accumulation amounts. Temperatures will fall into the lower to mid 20s towards daybreak on Thursday. With the strong winds, winds chill values will drop into the teens.

Thursday a few flurries may linger in portions of our southern middle Tennessee counties, but should be mainly NE of the area area. Bitterly cold air continues to be advected into the area behind the front on Thursday. With lingering cloud cover as well in the morning, highs should be hard pressed to get out of the 30s (maybe even mid to upper 20s north of the TN River). Winds will remain very breezy in the morning before slightly weakening in the afternoon. However, they will likely still be between 10 and 15 mph with some gusts up to 25 mph at times. This will keep wind chill values in the teens and 20s mostly.

As a surface high builds into the area Thursday night, winds should decouple and that should be our coldest night, dropping into the upper teens to around 20 degrees.

On Friday, abundant sunshine and some warm air advection ahead of an approaching clipper system should allow temperatures to climb back into the lower to mid 40s. Friday night models produce some light precipitation ahead of it as it approaches the Tennessee Valley, but keep it mostly to our north and northeast. However, a few models are hinting that it could extend further southwest into northern Alabama. Kept with NBM guidance on the drier side, but another round of light snow could occur if the precipitation extends further southwest. Another shot of very cold air is expected behind this front through the remainder of the weekend.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 600 AM CST Mon Jan 12 2026

VFR conditions will continue through the TAF period at both terminals with mostly clear skies and light/var winds.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

AL...None. TN...None.