textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1000 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026

- The recent warm weather pattern will continue today, with a low potential for record breaking high temperatures this afternoon.

- A cooler airmass will arrive Monday and remain in place through mid-week.

- Low chances of showers and thunderstorms exist at various times from mid-week through Friday.

NEAR TERM

(Tonight) Issued at 153 PM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026

No major changes from previous forecast. Observational trends show wind gusts are finally appearing which is slower than previous forecast, however sustained SW winds of 10-15 mph have been persistent. Looking out the window, there are a few Cu developing out there this afternoon with plenty of sunshine to help these temps reach 78-84 degrees so far. Still not expecting to reach or exceed record high temps, but temps in the low to upper 80s are unseasonable. With this in mind, take it slow in the heat, wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water when out enjoy the day today. Will see an increase in cloud cover tonight with mild lows in the 50s.

Previous Discussion: We will be abnormally warm today with highs in the low to mid 80s which is about 20 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year (67-68 degrees are the seasonable norms). This will run close but most likely not meet or exceed record high temperatures. Records are: HSV 88 (in 1907) and MSL 89 (1907). It will also be windy due to an increased pressure gradient that will create southwesterly winds 10-15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

The cold front should arrive late tonight. It will bring a low chance (5-15%) of showers for locations mainly north of the TN River and keep winds elevated. Otherwise, we will all have an increase in cloud cover and warm lows in the upper 50s.

SHORT TERM

(Monday through Wednesday) Issued at 1000 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026

The cold front will finish moving through on Monday and northerly winds will remain elevated through the day 10-15 mph. Dry air filtering in will help erode the cloud cover, providing partly cloudy skies by mid afternoon. Look for highs to be about 10 degrees cooler than Sunday, in the upper 60s to lower 70s.

The anchored ridge out west that has been causing record breaking temps and dangerous heat will shift eastward Tuesday and Wednesday now centering in the Southern Rockies and Southern Plains. This will place our region in a northwesterly flow during this time and send down a few disturbances. The first will return cloud cover on Tuesday and bring a low chance (10-25%) of showers to the TN Valley. Wednesday should be dry and the precip is trending to stay to our northeast Wednesday night so will keep with the NBM for now of < 10% showers. Look for highs to range from the lower 70s in NE AL to the upper 70s in NW AL on Wednesday afternoon.

LONG TERM

(Tuesday night through Saturday) Issued at 917 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026

A strong 5h anticyclone over the Desert Southwest will flatten somewhat and shift east into Texas and the Gulf states from mid to late next week. West-northwest flow will be predominant across the northern 2/3 of the CONUS which will bring several weak shortwave impulses through. An 8h thermal ridge will also expand from the Plains east through the OH and TN valleys by Thursday into Friday. Low level jet convergence yields the development of a potential small MCS Wednesday night into early Thursday across the lower OH valley, which dissipates as it reaches east TN and most likely misses our forecast area to the northeast. Something to watch nonetheless, but at this time, the probability of rain will be very low here on Wednesday into Thursday. A cold front will drop south into the lower MO and OH valleys on Thursday afternoon and night with more widespread showers and thunderstorms along it. The front makes progress into the TN valley Friday and Friday night, but low level flow/convergence weakens and shortwave support looks limited. Thus, PoPs looks to remain quite low at this stage and this far out. For temperatures, after highs in the 70s Wednesday, lower to middle 80s return Thursday, and upper 70s to lower 80s are forecast Friday depending on the progress and nature of the cold front and cloud cover/precipitation trends. A distinct cool down is expected by Saturday with highs only in the upper 60s to lower 70s.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1246 PM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026

Current breezy southwesterly winds of 10kts gusting to 20kt at times will not slack much overnight. In fact, they cause LLWS ~00Z ahead of an approaching cold front, then winds will veer behind the passage of the front ~9/10Z. That front will also bring MVFR CIGS that will will not start to scatter out until almost the end of the TAF period.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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