textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 944 AM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

- Afternoon RH values will dip below 30% this afternoon, creating the need for extra caution regarding open outdoor flames.

NEAR TERM

(Tonight) Issued at 207 PM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

We adjusted dewpoints downward slightly this afternoon through tomorrow, bringing RH values down to 30% or below across most of north central and northwest AL. This will pose a concern for brush fires due to prolonged dry conditions. Winds will remain light and should mitigate a larger wildfire concern. Otherwise, the previous forecast remains on track.

Previous discussion: Upper level ridging across the central U.S. and troughing along the Eastern seaboard will continue to keep our area under dry northerly flow aloft. Thus, we are not expecting much change in our sensible weather with daytime highs near seasonal values in the mid 70s and little in the way of clouds. One thing we will be watching again today is how much mixing we see in the afternoon. Currently expecting our dewpoints to drop into the upper 30s to low 40s which could result in RH values below 30% in some areas. Overnight lows should be a tad warmer this evening with mid to upper 40s expected.

SHORT TERM

(Saturday through Sunday night) Issued at 944 AM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

The upper ridge will gradually shift east from the southern Plains and into the Southeast this weekend, leading to warmer than normal temperatures during the day. Highs will reach the mid 70s across north central and northwest AL with temps in the lower 70s in the higher terrain. Large scale subsidence will keep sunny skies in place and clear skies overnight. This combined with light winds will allow for good radiational cooling overnight bringing lows to the lower to middle 40s. We went ahead and adjusted dewpoint temps down through Saturday based on near term guidance underdoing afternoon mixing in recent days. Although dewpoints have been poorly modeled lately, overnight dewpoint depressions may be low enough to allow for some fog development in and near river valleys and other sheltered, fog-prone locations.

LONG TERM

(Monday through Thursday) Issued at 900 PM CDT Thu Oct 22 2026

The beginning of the long term period will be categorized by upper ridging over the Southeast, keeping seasonably warm and dry conditions in place over the region. High temps will range from the low to mid 70s with what should be plenty of sunshine through the day. Like recent days, we will have to monitor dewpoint depressions in case RHs drop to a level that would be more critical for fire conditions, but light winds will mitigate larger fire concerns. The mid to lake week period gets a bit more uncertain as a series of upper waves are progged to traverse to our north around the Great Lakes region, pushing cold fronts through the northern Plains and Midwest. For now it does not look like these systems will amplify enough to dig this far south, but we will continue to monitor trends. For now, we will maintain a dry forecast with daily highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s to lower 50s.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1251 PM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

VFR conditions will persist through the TAF period with clear skies and light/var winds.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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