textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1043 AM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

- Above normal temperatures continue today with more record setting warmth, and Minor to Moderate (Level 2/4) heat impacts across portions of the Tennessee Valley.

- Colder conditions returns Friday into the weekend.

NEAR TERM

(Tonight) Issued at 347 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

The heat continued across the greater Tennessee Valley, with area high temperatures so far rising into the lower 90s. In Huntsville, the high has warmed to 90 degrees, exceeding the previous record of 88 last set in 1924/1938/1947. The temperature in Muscle Shoals may reached 91 degrees, which will tie their old record last set in 2015. There is another hour or so of more heating potential before cooling in the late afternoon commences. One last night of mild conditions are expected as lows cool into the low/mid 60s with light SE winds.

A cold front currently located from southern Wisconsin to across the central Plains to the Texas Big Bend is forecast to move SE, and reach NW Alabama around daybreak Fri. Showers are not expected into the early morning with the front.

SHORT TERM

(Friday through Saturday) Issued at 1043 AM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

The warm spell that we have been experiencing as of late will come to an end Friday morning, as a cold front sweeps in NW-SE manner across the Valley. This boundary will be moisture starved (with most of the dynamics and moisture well to our north and NE), thus am expecting a "dry" frontal passage. Newer output from the ECMWF was hinting at light showers mainly along and east of the I-65 corridor Fri afternoon. The front should be felt as SW winds will become NW, increasing to 15-20 mph with some gusts over 25 mph. Highs should range from the mid 70s NW Alabama where the cool air arrives earlier, to around 80 over the eastern areas where it arrive later.

What could be called "blustery" conditions are expected Fri night as temperatures fall. Temperatures in the early evening should be only in the lower 60s, but will fall into the upper 40s by the late evening. A stiff NW-N flow of 10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph will make for uncomfortable conditions for those participating in outdoor activities. The colder trend will continue under mostly sunny skies Sat, with highs only into the lower 60s. Northerly winds of 10-20 mph are expected into the early afternoon, then should gradually diminish towards the early evening.

LONG TERM

(Saturday night through Wednesday) Issued at 931 PM CDT Wed Oct 14 2026

High pressure at the surface by Sat night should be situated over the Midwest and southern Great Lakes. This cold anticyclone bringing a N-NE flow across the greater Tennessee Valley will bring the coldest air of the season thus far. Night time lows by Sun morning should range from the upper 30s our southern Middle Tennessee counties to the low/mid 40s near large bodies of water. The models have been showing mainly 38 degrees over Lincoln and Moore counties. Under clear skies and light winds, we cannot rule out temperatures falling another couple of degrees or so, which would bring a frost risk. This is something we will monitor.

The start of a new week should feature sunny skies with high temperatures a bit warmer than they were Sat, rising into the mid and upper 60s. Light winds in the morning should become E-SE in the afternoon. Not as cold Sun night with lows in the low/mid 40s. A slow warming trend is expected for the start of the new work week. Under mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies, highs Mon should rise into the upper 60s to lower 70s, with lows Mon night mid 40s to around 50. The moderation in temperatures continues into the midweek. Under partly cloudy skies, highs on Tue should get close to seasonable norms into the low/mid 70s, and into the mid 70s to around 80 Wed. Lows Tue night again should range from the mid 40s to around 50. Dry weather should continue into the middle of next week.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1228 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

VFR conditions should continue into Fri morning, as high pressure off of the SE coast provides a southerly flow across this region. Shower activity preceding a frontal boundary nearing from the NW should remain west of the area through Fri morning. This cold front is forecast to sweep in a NW-SE manner across the TN Valley Friday morning. Southerly winds will veer to the NW and increase to 10-20kt with stronger gusts late in the TAF. Post frontal clouds moving in should produce MVFR CIGs late Fri morning as well.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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