textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 757 PM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

- Temperatures remain well above normal this weekend, including near record or record highs. - A strong cold front will bring showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms Sunday night into early Monday.

- Temperatures will fall below normal behind the cold front early next week.

NEAR TERM

(Rest of tonight through Friday night) Issued at 757 PM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

The stratus deck that has been in place most of today has cleared northwest into central AL. Temperatures have dipped into the lower 60s with T/Td spreads of 5F or less in most areas. With light or calm surface flow, patchy fog will develop this evening into the overnight hours. However, flow just above the decoupled boundary layer will transport moisture east-northeast with lower cloud development expected as well. Thus, there is uncertainty on how widespread and dense the fog will become. For now, we will be in monitoring mode and message the potential for patchy dense fog. Overnight lows will be in the middle to upper 50s.

A surface low in KS will rapidly move northeast into the Great Lakes tonight into early Friday with a trailing cold front that will stall out well to our northwest. The related mid level trough axis moves east through the Great Lakes through the MS and TN valleys. This brings a very low chance (10% or less) of light showers or sprinkles to our area Friday, increasing to 15-20% Friday evening. The considerable cloud cover on Friday will hold high temperatures in the lower 70s in valley locations (upper 60s atop the Cumberland Plateau and higher elevations). Overnight lows will be in the upper 50s to around 60.

SHORT TERM

(Saturday through Sunday) Issued at 757 PM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

The mid and upper level ridge over the Gulf of America into the southeast U.S. will provide two more warm days over the weekend. However, low level moisture will produce areas of lower stratus, especially during the night into the morning hours. As the next trough and cold front enter the Plains, the ridge shifts east and robust southwest flow in low levels continues to advect warm and moist air into the region. Despite potential areas of low clouds, temperatures will reach the lower to middle 70s for highs both Saturday and Sunday which will be near records daily values.

Record Highs... Saturday: HSV 77 in 2015 MSL 78 in 2015 Sunday: HSV 74 in 2021 MSL 75 in 1907

LONG TERM

(Monday through Thursday) Issued at 757 PM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

By Monday morning, the cold front will be advancing through the area and we are due for a pretty rapid change in airmass and a cold welcome back to winter. Rain will taper off toward the afternoon and if the current forecast holds, temps will likely be too warm by the time the rain ends to result in any wintry mix. We will continue to monitor timing and temperature trends as we go through the weekend, but for now we continue to keep any mention of flurries out of the forecast. Temperatures will top out in the 40s on Monday and plummet down into the upper teens/lower 20s by Tuesday morning. Wind chills will drop to the low teens to perhaps single digits in some locations, especially in the higher terrain where winds will be a little higher. Breezy northwest flow will continue through Tuesday morning before gradient winds begin to slacken as high pressure nears from the southwest. Highs will only reach the 30s on Tuesday with a dip back to the teens/20s Tuesday night. The remainder of the long term forecast remains uncertain due to model inconsistencies at this range but generally favors dry weather and below normal temperatures.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1145 PM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

Complex cloud cover was in place over the TN Valley for the start of the TAF. Stratus moving in from the west so far has helped to keep VFR conditions at KMSL. With more lower clouds headed there, will stay with VFR conditions for the overnight into the day Fri. A steady SW flow around 5kt should also help keep fog development minimized. Not the case for KHSV, where predominately clear skies has allowed for the development of fog. Maintained an IFR forecast for the early overnight, with 1/4SM VSBY possible over the next few hours. After 09Z, conditions should improve as stratus moves over the terminal. Conditions at KHSV should improve to VFR after sunrise Fri, and remain that way for the remainder of the period.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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