textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1014 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

- A low chance (20-30%) for showers and thunderstorms will return Saturday afternoon.

- We will have a high chance (60-70%) for record breaking maximum temperatures on Sunday.

NEAR TERM

(Today) Issued at 314 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

Dry north-northwest flow aloft of 30-40 knots exists across the TN Valley early this morning, and will continue throughout the day as our region will remain situated between a longwave trough along the Eastern Seaboard and a subtropical high over the southwestern CONUS/northwestern Mexico. Although a few passing high clouds can be expected at times early this morning, a light SSE-calm flow is supporting efficient radiational cooling, with temps by sunrise expected to range from the u30s-l40s/E to u40s-l50s/W (with patchy fog potentially developing during a brief window between 10-13Z). After sunrise, low-level flow will veer to southwest and strengthen, allowing surface dewpoints to rise into the l-m 50s region-wide. This will contribute to development of scattered fair-weather cumulus, with highs expected to range from the l-m 70s in elevated terrain to the u70s-l80s in the valley.

SHORT TERM

(Friday night through Sunday) Issued at 1014 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

High pressure/ridging to our south will continue over the weekend with warm and mostly dry conditions in place, with the one caveat being a shortwave that may bring a few light non-severe showers/thunderstorms to the area Saturday afternoon. Although moisture looks a bit limited with this wave, forcing from this wave may be strong enough to generate a few showers across central and eastern portions of the forecast area. For now we will keep PoPs capped at 20-30% but will continue to watch trends as we head into the weekend. Otherwise, expect highs in the 80s and potentially record high temps on Sunday. With current highs forecast in the mid 80s, local high temp records at HSV (88 in 1907) and MSL (89 in 1907) may be in danger of being broken if current trends are too cool. Overnight lows will be warm as well, only falling to the 50s so no chance of any freeze through the weekend.

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through Thursday) Issued at 1014 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Overall, there are little significant changes in the overall synoptic pattern through the mid-week period aside from a weak cold front expected to move through the area on Monday. While this won't bring any rain to the area, we will notice cooler temps in the 70s Monday afternoon and in the low to mid 40s overnight Monday into Tuesday. Another weak upper wave will bring low chances for rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, but moisture may be a little more sufficient with this system and may drive PoPs up in future updates. Ridging begins to expand to the east toward the end of the long term period and will result in another warming trend and dry conditions.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 637 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

There have been no significant changes to previous aviation forecast reasoning, as VFR conditions will continue at the terminals this forecast period (featuring sct-bkn Ci, as well as a sct Cu field during the daylight hours). Lgt SE sfc winds will veer to SW and strengthen to 8G16 kts by 15Z, before subsiding once again this evening. Conditions appear a bit more conducive for the development of patchy BR/FG prior to the end of the valid TAF period early Sat morning.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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