textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 129 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

- Flash Flood Watch until 6 PM CDT for areas along and east of I-65 in northeast AL.

- Low risk of excessive rain and flash flooding this week with additional periods of showers and thunderstorms.

- Gusty winds and lightning will be the other hazards associated with thunderstorms.

NEAR TERM

(Tonight) Issued at 129 PM CDT Sun May 24 2026

An MCV has moved northeast into central and northeast AL this afternoon. An earlier convergence zone/heavy rain band has shifted northeast into TN, but the next batch tied to the MCV circulation was entering our southeast counties, including Cullman County where flash flooding is ongoing. A FFA was issued for areas mainly along and east of I-65 in northeast AL through 23Z. We expect this band to exit the area this evening. However, additional isolated to scattered thunderstorms will develop further west where sunshine has pushed temperatures into the upper 70s to lower 80s and SBCAPE into the 1200-1700 j/Kg range. Loss of heating may deplete these storms this evening, but will maintain low chances overnight as seen in recent HRRR runs.

SHORT TERM

(Monday through Tuesday) Issued at 843 AM CDT Sun May 24 2026

Deep layer southerly flow will persist through the southeast and TN Valley on Monday into Tuesday between a weak 5h low over the ARKLATEX region and a Bermuda high. The western low lifts north- northwest as a trough digs into the Rockies. Southerly flow increases to 20-25kt in the 8-5h layer with general confluent flow persisting in a high PW/theta-E airmass. Thus, a continued risk of locally excessive rainfall is expected. High temperatures will be similar both days in the upper 70s to lower 80s with lows in the 60s.

LONG TERM

(Tuesday night through Saturday) Issued at 1059 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

Unsettled weather will continue for the remainder of next week, with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms. The circulation rounding surface high pressure off of the east coast will continue bringing deep moisture from the Gulf region well inland. Rain chances however will begin to take on a more diurnal trend as we go into the latter portion of the week, with the highest chances in the afternoon and early evening. Daily high temperatures should range in the low/mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s. A frontal boundary is forecast to move across the area on Saturday from the north. Depending upon far south it moves, rain chances next week may indeed become lower.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 708 PM CDT Sun May 24 2026

Predominantly VFR CIGS are expected for the next few hours. Some mesoscale guidance reforms a thin line of RA that pushes east across the terminals between 00Z and 03Z. Clearing has already occurred in many areas of northern Alabama. This could lead to widespread dense fog across much of northern Alabama by 5Z or 6Z. With dewpoints depressions already very low and the boundary layer very saturated from all the rainfall today, this looks very possible (maybe as early as midnight to 2 AM). For now, we have not been that aggressive with the fog development in the TAFS. However, lower MVFR VSBYS and CIGS were included after 9Z with a tempo group for IFR VSBYS. These VSBYS and CIGS may need to be lower and begin earlier than currently forecast (closer to the 5Z to 7Z timeframe for MVFR VSBY drops - and maybe to between 1/4SM and 3/4SM for VSBYS between 9Z and 12Z) by the next issuance. MVFR CIGS will likely linger into the day on Monday.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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