textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1055 PM CST Wed Dec 10 2025

- Low chances of precipitation return to the forecast Saturday night as a cold front pushes through the area.

- A very low chance of precipitation continues late Saturday night could become a wintry mix before ending towards daybreak on Sunday, as temperatures fall below freezing just before daybreak as well.

- Confidence is increasing in a potential of very cold conditions Sunday into Monday. We are keeping an eye on Sunday night/Very Early Monday morning for possible wind chill values around or slightly below 5 degrees towards portions of NE Alabama and southern middle Tennessee in some locations.

NEAR TERM

(Tonight) Issued at 235 PM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

Not much change in the forecast with a bit more high cloudiness building southeast into the area the last few hours. Highs have climbed into the lower 40s in southern middle Tennessee and lower 50s in NW Alabama. Dewpoints have mixed a bit more dry air down to the surface in some areas than expected. Afternoon relative humidity values have dropped to between 15 and 20 degrees in the Vinemont, AL and Fort Payne, AL areas.

Overall winds pick up as the pressure gradient increases tonight. Sustained winds between 5 and 10 mph with gusts to 15 mph are expected. Winds along with some increasing boundary layer moisture advection will likely have the biggest impact on low temperatures though. Both processes will keep lows warmer, only allowing temperatures to drop into the 30 to 40 degree range (low 30s NE AL).

SHORT TERM

(Friday through Sunday) Issued at 1055 AM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

A cold front Friday morning extends from the Ohio Valley regions southwest through southern Kentucky into eastern Texas. Stronger boundary layer warm/moisture air advection and sunny skies should allow highs to climb into the 55 to 60 degree range in most locations. This cold front pushes southeast through northern Alabama during the after hours on Friday. This will bring another round of colder drier air into the region later Friday afternoon into Friday night. Lows mainly via cold air advection will drop down into the lower 30s again.

This weak front stalls somewhere between central and southern Alabama during the day on Saturday. At the same time, an Arctic front quickly continues to push southeast from the Northern Plains and western Great Lakes area towards the region. Extremely cold air is associated with this frontal boundary.

As this strong arctic front pushes further southeast Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening, it interacts with a weak area of low pressure that develops on the stalled front in southern/central Alabama. There could be a window overnight as the arctic cold front continues to push southeast and that low is pulled east ahead of it south of northern Alabama. During this period, there may be a low risk of overunning drizzle/light rain changing to wintry precipitation over portions of northern Alabama (likely briefly freezing rain to light sleet). The main window for this activity right now is from midnight on Saturday to 6 AM on Sunday. The good new is most of the stronger forcing seems to occur in guidance north and south of northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee and above the main cloud layer. However, if any precipitation occurs, a few tenths of an inch of accumulation (mainly on elevated bridges or trees) could occur. It will be very breezy Saturday night. These winds along with warm ground temperatures should help keep roadways from being slick.

The main caveat to this system concerns the forcing along that stalled front to our south. If that front moves further north over time in guidance, then a wintry threat could increase. However, the trend over the past few runs has been south of the area.

The bigger issue will be the cold air that will be moving in Saturday night along with strong surface winds. This will likely drop wind chill values into the 10 to 15 degree range towards daybreak on Sunday.

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through Wednesday) Issued at 1055 AM CST Wed Dec 11 2025

Colder arctic conditions will set in on Sunday with high temperatures only reaching the mid/upper 20s in most locations and a few low 30s towards Cullman county. A blustery northerly wind of 10-15 mph with higher gusts to between 20 and 30 mph are expected. This will keep wind chill values in the teens to single digits through the day. Very cold conditions will continue Sun night with lows in the low/mid teens. Winds thankfully should be lighter by this time. However, with lower air temperatures, wind chill values could still drop into the lower teens to single digits overnight towards 6 AM on Monday. A Cold Weather Advisory may be needed as we closer to that period to address wind chill values 5 degrees or below.

Still cold for the start of the work week, with highs struggling to around 40 on Monday. Another chilly period Monday night, with lows in the low/mid 20s; and highs Tuesday moderating to around 50.

The models were all showing moisture return from the south Tuesday night, bringing lower end chances of rain to the Tennessee Valley Tue night into Wednesday. With temperatures moderating, this should be an all liquid event. Lows Tue night should range in the 30s (colder east), with highs Wed into the low/mid 50s.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1134 AM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

VFR conditions are expected throughout the TAF period. Wind shear is expected to affect both terminals overnight tonight (starting at 5Z at KMSL and 7Z at KHSV. Fairly strong winds shear is expected around 40 kts from 220 degrees. Winds overnight should keep any fog from forming. Winds will pick up after 12/15Z and become more southwesterly around 10 kts gusting between 15 and 20 kts.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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