textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 837 PM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

- Warm temps, low RH, and gusty winds will promote fire weather concerns for Sunday.

NEAR TERM

(Today) Issued at 122 AM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026

As upper level ridging and sfc high pressure continue to influence the southeastern U.S., dry conditions persist. WAA will allow highs to reach the low to mid 80s this afternoon under sunny skies along with light, variable winds. Due to lack of moisture, RH values will drop into the 30-35% late this afternoon. In turn, an increased fire weather risk continues today. However, due to RH values remaining above 25% and light winds, a Red Flag Warning is not being considered at this time.

SHORT TERM

(Saturday night through Monday) Issued at 837 PM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

Through the second half of the weekend a strong blocking pattern will develop via a trough west / ridging east set up. We will be under the ridging and high pressure portion of the pattern. This will place us solidly in southerly flow both at the surface and aloft, maintaining our prolonged period of temperature and moisture advection from the Gulf. This will allow temps to surge into the low to mid 80s on Sunday and Monday. While dew points will be making slow but steady increase, the above normal temps paired with increased gradient winds will prompt fire weather concerns for Sunday. Models show a high (60-80%) chance of wind gusts of 20+ MPH. With the NICC already highlighting Sunday as a high risk for significant fire potential, RH values will be the limiting factor when looking at any fire weather product issuance for Sunday.

Currently, deterministic models keep RH values above critical indices (25%) but do show concerningly low values near 30% on Sunday afternoon. The current concern is captured by the ensembles showing inverted V soundings on Sunday afternoon, supporting the potential for dry air aloft to mix down to the surface. This would allow dew points to drop below our current forecast and drop RH near and below critical values. This is something we will have to keep a very close eye on and make edits to the forecast as necessary.

Dew points will increase a few degrees on Monday, allowing RH to remain above critical values. While numerically this will keep us away from critical fire weather thresholds, without any change in winds, temps, or precip, please use continued caution with anything that could cause a spark.

LONG TERM

(Monday night through Friday) Issued at 837 PM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

At the start of the long term period on Monday, there will be upper level ridging across the eastern CONUS with troughing in the west. High pressure remains locked in across the Southeast. Southerly flow around the western flank of the sfc high results in a continued warming trend through the upcoming work week. Temperatures throughout next week will be running around 10 degrees above normal. The good news is that dewpoints only rise into the mid to upper 50s keeping the heat indices close to the air temperatures. Overnight lows dips down into the upper 50s to lower 60s and afternoon highs rise into the low to mid 80s Tuesday and Wednesday and then the upper 80s Thursday and Friday. For reference, our typical temperatures this time of year are highs in the low to mid 70s and lows in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Several shortwaves will eject northeast along the base of the trough to our west, but latest ensembles keep all rain chances out of our local forecast area. Right now, there is a low chance (10-15%) of showers and maybe an isolated thunderstorm for areas along and west of I-65. Regardless, this very limited chance for precip will barely put a dent into the recent drought conditions.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1136 PM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

VFR conditions are forecast through the TAF period.

CLIMATE

Issued at 419 PM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

The Climate Prediction Center has included all of Northern Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee in a Moderate/High Risk for Much Above Normal Temperatures for April 18-20. Therefore, there is a 50-70% chance for temperatures above 85-90 degrees F during this period

More information on the CPC U.S. Hazards Outlook can be found at: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/threats/threats.php

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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