textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 948 PM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

- A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect from midnight tonight through 10 AM Tuesday. Wind chills of -5 to +5 are expected.

- After tonight, cold temperatures will largely persist through the week, with lows in the teens to lower 20 degrees each night.

- We are monitoring another blast of arctic air later this week, along with a low chance of precipitation.

NEAR TERM

(Rest of Tonight and Tuesday) Issued at 948 PM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Current temperatures across the local area are in the mid to upper teens. Mostly clear skies and light winds will allow for good radiational cooling tonight, leading to very frigid temperatures. Therefore, lows are on track to further plummet later tonight to between 6-13 degrees! Although winds have decreased this evening and are expected to be light and variable for most of the night, northwest Alabama, portions of north- central Alabama, and southern middle Tennessee may see winds increase by daybreak. This, combined with frigid low temperatures mentioned above will result in wind chills ranging between -5 to 5 degrees in these locations especially. Portions of northeast Alabama (in the higher terrain) may also experience similar wind chills. Even so, it's going to be dangerously cold for all locations tonight through early Tuesday morning. Therefore, the Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect for all of north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee from midnight tonight through 10 AM Tuesday morning. Make sure to bundle up with a winter coat appropriate for the extreme cold, as well as perhaps a hat, scarf, and gloves if you venture outside. Make sure to also keep heater safety in mind if you plan to use one to keep warm. Keep the area around heaters clear (3 foot rule), plug them directly into outlets (no extension cords), and don't leave them running while you are away or sleeping!

A dry day is then on tap for Tuesday as surface high pressure continues to build in from the southwest and northwest flow persists aloft. A slight warm up is also in store (compared to today's highs in the 20s), as highs warm into the upper 30s to lower 40s. Although, some breezy conditions are anticipated by the afternoon (gusts up to 20 mph), making it feel closer to the lower to mid 30s. Overall, make sure to dress warmly for the cold temperatures!

SHORT TERM

(Tuesday Night through Thursday Night) Issued at 948 PM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

An incoming upper shortwave from the northwest is shown by guidance to approach the region by early Wednesday morning. Model precipitable water values as well as model soundings show no moisture associated with this feature at the midlevel or surface. If there is any moisture, it's higher up in the atmosphere. Thus, at this point, only increased cloud cover is anticipated Tuesday night through Wednesday morning (no precipitation). Zonal flow then sets up aloft by Thursday. Ultimately, no precipitation is forecast through the short term. High temperatures are expected to warm just a bit into the lower to mid 40s by Thursday. Lows will continue to be cold though, with values in the teens to lower 20 degrees each night. Keep that winter coat handy and protect pets, pipes, and plants!

LONG TERM

(Friday through Monday) Issued at 948 PM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Winter will hold its grip on the TN Valley through the end of the month. By Friday, an upper level trough that expands across the eastern half of the CONUS, full of more Arctic air, will have a southern stream wave phase with it and then ride along or just south of the Gulf Coast. In return, a sfc low will develop in the northern Gulf. We will be monitoring the evolution of this set up to see if we get another round of wintry weather or if it develops more to our east towards the Mid Atlantic. As it stands, our forecast for Friday has a low chance (10-20%) of showers with higher values brushing the southern portions of the CWA, but Saturday will be dry. Both days will be bitterly cold. Highs on Friday will be in the 30s, and northerly winds will pick up Friday night to tank lows into the single digits and slightly above, with wind chills possibly below zero.

The trough will deepen as it digs southeastward from the Great Lakes into the Southeast on Saturday before it wraps up and slingshots to the Mid Atlantic and off the coast on Sunday. That punch of arctic air on Saturday will make it the coldest day of the long term with highs firmly in the 20s. The gusty winds will persist and keep lows once again the single digits to just above. High pressure will dominate our forecast for Sunday and Monday as the sfc low associated with the upper level trough deepens and rides up the east coast. In return, Sunday's highs will "warm up" to around freezing and Monday will return to the 40s, which is warmer but still 10 degrees below normal.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1222 AM CST Tue Jan 27 2026

VFR conditions will be the predominant flight category at each terminal through the period. Winds will become gusty out of the west to WSW this afternoon.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

AL...Cold Weather Advisory until 10 AM CST this morning for ALZ001>010-016.

TN...Cold Weather Advisory until 10 AM CST this morning for TNZ076- 096-097.