textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 358 AM CDT Sat Aug 22 2026

- There is a low to medium chance of patchy, dense fog early this morning.

- A few thunderstorms may impact the western portion of north AL late this afternoon/early this evening. Brief strong wind gusts could accompany the most intense cells.

- There are low to medium chances of thunderstorms for much of next week. However, timing and impact confidence remains low at this time.

NEAR TERM

(Today) Issued at 358 AM CDT Sat Aug 22 2026

Scattered high-level convective debris clouds (originating from convection yesterday evening along the central Gulf Coast) will continue to spread northeastward across the TN Valley early this morning. However, due to the translucent nature of the clouds, conditions will remain favorable for radiational cooling as calm winds will exist within a weakening dome of high pressure centered to our north. Thus, we expect temperatures to fall a few more degrees from current readings, with lows in the m-u 60s. Although patchy, locally dense fog has sporadically developed in some of our normally fog-prone locations, this has not yet become sufficiently widespread for the issuance of an advisory.

Well to our northwest, a weakening complex of thunderstorms will continue to progress south-southeastward across eastern IL early this morning (in advance of a reinforcing cold front entering the western Great Lakes and Mid-MS Valley), with additional clusters of convection in progress from central NE southward into OK. As the cold front advances further southeastward today, renewed development of thunderstorms is expected by early this afternoon with greatest concentration from the OH Valley southeastward into the central/southern Appalachians (where synoptic scale forcing for ascent will be stronger) and from the Ozarks southeastward into northern MS (where the front may intercept a mesoscale boundary from convective complexes across the central Plains this morning, forcing the development of a new MCS).

Although isolated convective cells may evolve across central/western parts of KY/TN this afternoon (in the vicinity of the front), 0Z CAMs suggest a lower spatial coverage in this region (perhaps due to weaker lift and fairly dry profiles with PWATs in the 1.2-1.4" range). Thus, it appears as if our main concern for thunderstorms will be related to eastward- propagating outflow from a loosely organized MCS dropping southeastward into MS (and should be confined to the southwestern portion of the forecast area between 22Z and 2Z, at which point convection should weaken with the onset of nocturnal cooling). With MLCAPE expected to reach 1000-1500 J/kg late this afternoon as NW flow aloft begins to strengthen (due to an amplifying trough over the Great Lakes), a few strong wind gusts (up to 40-50 MPH) could occur with the most significant cells. Otherwise, abundant sunshine will allow temps to reach the l-m 90s for most of the valley this afternoon, as dewpoints mix down into the lower 60s.

SHORT TERM

(Sunday through Monday) Issued at 751 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

Dry weather with seasonal temperatures are foreseen on Sunday with highs in the upper 80s to around 90 as high pressure builds south from the Upper Midwest into the OH and TN valleys. Overnight lows will be on the cool side with lower to middle 60s. NW flow at 5h will persist into Monday, with a low to mid level Theta-E gradient and convergence zone located across IA through MO and AR. This will be the genesis region of clusters of showers and thunderstorms which will likely be elevated/higher based as they reach our area on Monday, when we have low chances in the forecast.

LONG TERM

(Monday night through Friday) Issued at 751 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

In the extended forecast, we will get a break from the extreme heat conditions, however in exchange for that, we will be stuck in an unsettled pattern.

We will start off with the pattern of an upper level low up in Quebec and the far NE U.S with an amplified ridge stretching from the southern Rockies up through the Northern Plains. On the back side of the ridge, a smaller upper-level low in Manitoba will try to be the driving force for a pattern change. As that smaller low slides SE into the Upper Great Lakes mid-week, the ridge will be dampened enough for it to round the ridge. This pattern will keep us in a northwesterly flow through the week. Embedded in this flow will be shortwaves that will swing through the TN Valley, keeping daily rain chances in. Right now it looks like there is a chance for an MCS to drop through on Tuesday, then again Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Will keep an eye on trends for specific hazards and timing, but for now will stick with NBM POPs. Daytime highs will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s with overnight lows around 70 degrees.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 134 AM CDT Sat Aug 22 2026

Scattered high-lvl convective debris clouds (from earlier convection along the central Gulf Coast) will continue to spread northeastward over the region early this morning. However, skies should remain sufficiently clear to permit the development of patchy BR/FG btwn 9-13Z, especially with calm winds. Thus, a TEMPO group for minor MVFR vsby reductions has been included at both HSV/MSL during this timeframe. With a drier profile in place today, we expect mostly sunny skies with only a few Cu beneath a sct layer of Ac. Lgt NW flow (~5 kts) will prevail for much of the day, with winds expected to veer to the north and strengthen this evening as a reinforcing cold front begins to shift southward thru the TN Valley. Although a few low-topped SHRA may evolve along the front region-wide this evening, chances for TSRA will be slightly higher at MSL (due to a more organized complex of convection tracking southeastward into northern MS). Regardless, precip chances are too low to mention in either TAF attm.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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