textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 955 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

- Beneficial rainfall is expected over the next 7 days with 2-4 inches over this period for most areas. There is a low chance of brief excessive rainfall and minor flooding during this stretch.

- Brief gusty winds may occur with the stronger thunderstorms. - Temperatures remain near seasonal normals for highs and just above for lows.

NEAR TERM

(Rest of Today and Tonight) Issued at 955 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

Deep layer south-southwest flow remains in place today which will keep medium to high chances of showers and a few thunderstorms through the day. Current radar shows another batch of moderate to heavy showers in northwest AL which seems tied to a weak shortwave impulse in the flow. As this shifts northeast, there may be a temporary decrease in activity. Although, with this occurring during peak afternoon heating, there may not be too much change. The surface boundary will remain to our northwest today and begin lifting north tonight as a stronger impulse enters the lower MS and TN valleys. We may see a decline in precipitation and thunderstorms overnight with loss of heating, but then a new band of showers and thunderstorms associated with the shortwave will develop in MS later tonight and arrive in our western counties toward morning. The main hazards from these storms will be heavy downpours and a low chance of brief excessive rainfall.

SHORT TERM

(Friday through Saturday) Issued at 955 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

This wave of showers and thunderstorms will move northeast through the area Friday morning into the early afternoon. With low to mid level winds increase to 30-40kt, there will be a greater risk of brief gusty winds with the stronger storms. With the shortwave moving through during the early part of the day, the afternoon may see a downward trend in activity. This will be followed by a similar wave that arrives late Friday night into early Saturday with similar traits. Thus, another round of heavy downpours and gusty winds with the stronger storms is expected late Friday night into Saturday morning. Then, subsidence may quell activity a bit Saturday afternoon and evening. The clouds and precipitation during this period will keep high temperatures in the upper 70s to lower 80s with lows in the 60s. Through Saturday evening, most areas will receive 1-1.75 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts.

LONG TERM

(Saturday night through Wednesday) Issued at 754 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

A fairly stagnant weather pattern will remain in place late this weekend into the middle of next week. A 5h ridge will be anchored over the southwest Atlantic into GA and FL northwest into the Upper MS valley as a cutoff low in the southern Plains slowly moves northward through the week. The medium range models shows a similar low developing over the southern Plains by mid to late week. However, there is disagreement in the ridge position, the ECMWF is favored here due to its persistence this week. In either case, the pattern will keep persistent deep layer southerly flow in play for the TN valley during this period. This results in medium to high chances of showers and a few thunderstorms will persist Sunday and Monday lowering to low to medium Tuesday and Wednesday, with greatest PoPs during the daytime heating hours into the early evening.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1135 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

Clusters of SHRA and a few TSRA will occur at times during this period. The highest chance will be from 02-06Z with another batch arriving after 13Z. However, this will vary with amendments expected. Ceilings will vary from MVFR to VFR through 01-02Z, then drop back to MVFR to IFR at times as widespread low ceilings redevelop.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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