textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1100 PM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

- A Flood Watch remains in effect through Saturday morning for a low risk of flash flooding.

- Total Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches are forecast, with locally higher amounts around 4 inches possible.

NEAR TERM

(Rest of tonight and Saturday) Issued at 1100 PM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

Heavier rainfall of 1 to 3 inches has fallen so far over the last 24 hours. A few locations in DeKalb, Marshall and Jackson counties might have received over 3 inches of rainfall. After a brief break from the rainfall late this afternoon and evening, a large area of light to moderate rainfall has spread northeast into northern Alabama. This is in response to an increasing low level jet associated with a shortwave ahead of an approaching slow moving longwave trough axis aloft and its associated cold front. This cold front stretches from extreme northwestern Arkansas southwest into far eastern Texas.

This disturbance and the low level jet is forecast to pivot northeast ahead of the surface low and cold front overnight into early Saturday morning into the Tennessee Valley region. This will concentrate some strong forcing over northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee, especially from 1 AM through around 9 AM. With PWATS forecast to remain between 1.0 and 1.6 inches (higher range of those values south of the Tennessee River), light to moderate rainfall (at times heavy) is expected to continue off and on ahead of the front overnight. An additional one to two inches looks fairly reasonable, but more confident that range (maybe locally higher in isolated locations) will occur in our southeast counties (Marshall, Dekalb, Jackson counties).

With already saturated soil conditions and 3 hour flash flood guidance around 1.5 inches in some areas, flash flooding and some minor river flooding could still occur (again mainly in our SE counties). Thus, leaving the Flood Watch in effect through noon on Saturday.

Expect light to moderate rainfall to linger into the early afternoon hours right behind the front and wrapping around the back side of the surface low well northeast of the area. With the cloud cover and lingering rainfall, temperatures will not climb much, but should make it into the lower 60s north of the TN river and mid 60s further south.

SHORT TERM

(Saturday night through Monday) Issued at 1100 PM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

Rainfall should come to an end by Saturday evening, but mostly cloudy conditions will linger into the evening hours, before clearing. Colder and drier air will push southeast behind the front. Lows in the lower to mid 30s are expected. A return to chilly conditions are expected on Sunday, despite abundant sunshine. Highs in the upper 30s to around 45 degrees are expected in most areas. With high pressure building east into the area, winds should decouple by Sunday night. This will be a chilly night, as lows could drop into the lower to mid 20s will the strong cold air advection seen earlier in the day.

This area of high pressure builds over the southeast Monday. However, the flow in the boundary layer becomes westerly during the day. This and abundant sunshine should allow highs to climb into the 45 to 50 degree range.

LONG TERM

(Monday night through Friday) Issued at 1100 PM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

Monday night the surface high shifts slightly further southeast, but should keep winds very light over the area.

As a large surface low moves southeast from central Canada into the eastern Great Lakes region Tuesday into Tuesday night, it will drag a strong cold front southward that approaches northern Alabama Tuesday night. This should warm things up on Tuesday into the 55 to 60 degrees. Lows should not drop as low either with cloud cover expected ahead of the front, only dropping into the 35 to 40 degree range mainly.

Models then move a much stronger longwave rough axis aloft southeast from the Great Lakes region. This pushes a front southward and through the area Wednesday afternoon. Expect scattered light showers to develop due to the strong forcing and just enough moisture in the atmosphere ahead of it. Models differ concerning lingering moisture near the upper low as it pushes southeast towards Thursday around daybreak, before it pushes east into the Carolinas. If the higher moisture content turns out correct, there may be a window for some light snowfall accumulation towards daybreak on Thursday. However, for now, only keep a low chance of precipitation in the forecast through 1 Am on Thursday. After temperatures drop into the upper 20s towards daybreak on Thursday, strong cold air advection should keep highs in the upper 30s to around 40 degrees.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1136 PM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

Occasional -RA with MVFR CIGS are expected after 06Z. A tempo group for RA was included between 10Z and 14Z at KMSL and between 14Z and 18Z at KHSV. CIGS or VSBYS may need to be lowered if +RA occurs. Expect -RA to continue and guidance suggests CIGS may drop to around 500 feet for a few hours before becoming MVFR again. VFR conditions may return by the early evening hours, but left that change out for now.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

AL...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for ALZ001>010-016.

TN...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for TNZ076-096-097.