textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 909 AM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026

- A Heat Advisory remains in effect from 11 AM through 8 PM today for portions of the forecast area.

- Moderate (Level 2/4) NWS HeatRisk values are expected for the majority of the forecast period. However, Major (Level 3/4) values are expected across parts of northwest and north-central AL (as well as southern Middle TN) through Friday.

NEAR TERM

(Rest of Today and Tonight) Issued at 909 AM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026

Strong and warm upper level ridging was situated over the Deep South, with mean troughing over the western CONUS. The strong ridge featured maximum height values of 597 decameters, which will amplify to 600 decameters on Wed while over the Tennessee Valley. It will slowly weaken after the midweek while building more to the SW. A surface high pressure off of the New England coast will provide a SE flow across the area into Thu. With strong suppression provided by upper ridging, dry weather is expected today and tonight.

Hot temperatures will be the headline for today. Highs later this afternoon should rise into the mid/upper 90s (cannot rule out a few places reaching 100 degrees). A critical item playing into the apparent temperatures are the dewpoints. At the present, dewpoints were in the lower 70s. Most of the guidance has them remaining there, then mixing out and falling to around 70. This will help "cool" apparent temperatures somewhat. Still, they should rise to and above 105 degrees for sizable portions of NW and north central Alabama and adjacent Middle Tennessee. Therefore the Heat Advisory will continue, valid from 11 AM through 8 PM this evening.

After a hot day, temperatures under generally clear skies should fall from the upper 60s NE Alabama to mid 70s near the Tennessee River. Temperature/dewpoint values appear will stay separated enough to minimize fog development.

SHORT TERM

(Wednesday through Thursday night) Issued at 909 AM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026

The aformentioned upper ridge will slowly build towards the SW as we go through the midweek. Thus similar temperatures are expected, with highs in the mid/upper 90s. Dewpoints should again mix to around 70 degrees, which should keep heat index values just below Advisory threshold of 105 degrees. We will evaluate this thinking, if the new NBM coming in in the next couple of hours trend warmer, we will extend the Heat Advisory into Wednesday. An otherwise repeat forecast with lows mainly in the 70s Wed night. Another hot and dry day is forecast for Thu with highs in the mid/upper 90s, and dewpoints mixing down into the upper 60s to around 70, which would keep apparent temperatures just below advisory criteria. Even though we may not have official advisories active, area residents should still practice heat alleviation tactics, like avoiding direct sun exposure for as much as possible, drinking plenty of water, and taking frequent breaks.

LONG TERM

(Friday through Monday) Issued at 1031 PM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

Late this week the anchored ridge across the Southeast will continue to retrograde and weaken as a cut off low moves westward across Florida. What remains of the ridge will keep around warmer than normal temps in place with highs in the mid to upper 90s and heat index values around 100 degrees Friday and Saturday.

This weekend, the low will continue to slide westward. However, models are now not as certain on what the path and trajectory of the low will be as it is suggesting it slows down the westward progression on Sunday and stalls it out to our south through Monday. This pattern leads to a greater assumption that the front well to our north that drapes over into the OH Valley and Mid Atlantic will not make it through the TN Valley. The persistent sfc high along the east coast will cause it to become more of a wedge front for us on Sunday into Monday. Temps and POPs on Sunday and Monday will depend a lot on the pattern than ends up taking shape. However, there should be a downward temp trend with models favoring highs "only" in the 80s on Monday as medium rain chances (40-60%) move in.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 533 AM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026

VFR conditions will prevail at both terminals through the period, with light winds and a mostly clear sky.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

AL...Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT this evening for ALZ001>007.

TN...Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT this evening for TNZ076-096.