textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1055 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

- The Heat Advisory for the entire forecast area has been extended through Monday, with extensions potentially into the middle of next week.

- There will be low (10-30%) chances for a few thunderstorms this afternoon. A couple of storms may become strong with strong winds, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall the main impacts.

NEAR TERM

(Tonight) Issued at 250 PM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

Temps have warmed into the low to mid 90s area wide as heat indices range from 100 to 108 degrees. Current satellite and radar show scattered showers and thunderstorms focused primarily over areas to our east, although there are a few showers east of I-65. Large scale forcing remains limited and storm coverage should stay on the lower side through the evening hours. A very low chance of patchy fog was added overnight for the river valley areas over NE AL, but larger dewpoint depressions should keep fog largely at bay. Any areas that see rainfall this afternoon and evening would have a higher chance of overnight fog development. Otherwise, no significant changes were made to the near term forecast.

Previous Discussion: Low chances for showers and thunderstorms will remain in the forecast through the peak heating hours of the afternoon into early evening, but activity should come to an end shortly after sunset. Skies have remained mostly clear after early morning river fog has burned off. Any storms that develop today could be heavy at times, producing frequent lightning, gusty winds up to 40mph, and brief torrential rainfall.

The main concern today will continue to be the life-threatening heat as a 596 dam high sits just to our east. H85 temps will approach 23 degrees C with sfc temps in the 94-98 degree F range. This combined with dewpoints in the mid 70s will bring heat indices to the 100-110 degree range which will pose a significant risk for heat related illness especially for those that are without proper cooling and hydration and for those that are especially vulnerable. If spending time outdoors today please be sure to drink plenty of fluids, use sunscreen, wear light colored clothing, and take frequent breaks in the shade.

Dewpoint depressions will be slightly higher tonight which should limit fog development. Overnight lows will me in the mid to upper 70s providing no real relief from the dangerous heat.

SHORT TERM

(Saturday through Sunday night) Issued at 1055 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

The pattern will change little through the short term period, although dewpoints will be slightly lower (lower 70s instead of mid 70s) thanks to slightly drier air and low level mixing. Due to this, rain and storm chances through the weekend will be below 10% and the main threat will continue to be the dangerous heat. The Heat Advisory will continue through the weekend with heat indices up to 110 degrees each afternoon, and we will continue to monitor the potential for Extreme Heat Warning criteria of widespread 110+ heat indices. For now confidence in widespread coverage of those conditions remains too low to upgrade, but considerations will have to be made toward the Sunday-Monday timeframe if trends favor warmer temperatures. Please avoid spending long periods of time outdoors over the weekend and make sure you have adequate hydration and cooling. Always look before you lock and never leave people or pets unattended in vehicles!

LONG TERM

(Monday through Thursday) Issued at 1007 PM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026

The 5h ridge will remain in place across the southern U.S. next week, with west-northwest flow across the central Plains into the OH and TN valleys. The question is how amplified and it's eastward influence into the TN Valley and southeast U.S. The ECMWF is a bit more amplified with the ridge in the Rockies and Plains which could inflate convective chances and some heat relief at times due to a more northwesterly flow if this verifies. For now, forecast highs in the middle to upper 90s on Monday may drop into the lower to middle 90s in valley areas Tuesday through Thursday (upper 80s to around 90 atop the higher Cumberland Plateau areas). Overnight lows in the middle to upper 70s will dip into lower to middle 70s. For now, PoPs remain low on a day to day basis next week, but this certainly could waiver upward depending on the evolution of the ridge and northwesterly flow/MCS cluster tracks around the periphery of the ridge.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 540 PM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

VFR conditions will prevail at each terminal through the remainder of the period, with light winds and a mostly clear sky.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

AL...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Monday for ALZ001>010-016.

TN...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Monday for TNZ076-096-097.