textproduct: Huntsville

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1110 AM CDT Tue Jul 28 2026

- Heat Advisory and Extreme Heat Warning in effect for portions of the TN Valley through 7PM Tonight.

- A cold front will bring additional thunderstorms to the region Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, with coverage highest in the east. A a few strong- severe storms may occur during this timeframe.

- A drier airmass will encompass the region from Wednesday- Friday, but chances for showers and some thunderstorms will increase once again this weekend.

NEAR TERM

(Tonight) Issued at 244 PM CDT Tue Jul 28 2026

Current satellite shows mostly sunny skies prevailing over the TN Valley with scattered thunderstorm development expanding eastward over the southern Appalachians. This activity is forecast to move southward later this afternoon and evening and there is a low chance some of these storms clip portions of NE AL. If this happens, there is a low chance for a strong to severe storm with the biggest concern being gusty to damaging straight line winds. The more immediate and widespread threat is the current heat indices ranging from 102-113 degrees area wide. This will be dangerous for those without proper cooling and hydration, especially if spending time outdoors this afternoon. Please look before you lock and never leave people or pets in unattended vehicles! There is a low chance for patchy dense fog tonight, especially in and around the river valley areas in NE AL.

Previous discussion: We remain stuck between the trough along the east coast and the dome of high pressure that expands across the central CONUS. The ridge will expand a little eastward today, providing us one more day of dangerous heat. As we try to enjoy the last of summer break before school starts up, lets be sure to stay safe in the heat. An Excessive Heat Warning (Heat Index 110+) remains in effect for portions of NW AL and the rest of us are in a Heat Advisory (Heat Index 105+) until 7pm. We should stay mostly sunny to help warm us up into the lower 90s (higher elevations) and the upper 90s elsewhere. Will be monitoring dewpoint trends to see if they mix out or hold steady in the mid 70s to 80 degrees. Regardless, it will be hot and humid so stay cool and hydrated.

Tonight, a cold front will slip southward from the OH Valley into the TN Valley, ahead of a disturbance sliding southeastward from the Midwest. This will bring a low chance (15-30%) for showers and thunderstorms tonight. CAMs are not in a solid agreement, however it looks like a broken line will move southwestward through the TN Valley most likely between 00-06Z. Gusty winds and heavy rainfall will be the primary threats.

SHORT TERM

(Wednesday through Friday) Issued at 1110 AM CDT Tue Jul 28 2026

We will begin to transition airmasses in the short term period as a front slowly makes its way through the area. Although high atmospheric moisture will exist ahead of this front with PWATs over 2.2", overall convergence/forcing does not look conducive for widespread heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. This will all happen as a closed upper low shifts off the New England coast and sfc high pressure expands from the Great Lakes and into the Southeast. Some other good news is that with slightly cooler temperatures, the thermodynamic environment will be a bit more limited tomorrow as well and severe thunderstorms are not expected. Temps will cool slightly as drier air moves from east to west, bringing a relief from the dangerous 100+ degree heat indices. Afternoon highs will reach the upper 80s/lower 90s with cloud cover gradually clearing during the afternoon. The front will clear NW AL last, and we will keep low end PoPs capped at 30% through the remainder of the afternoon.

From there, a dry forecast is expected with slightly cooler conditions. Lows will fall to the mid to upper 60s Wednesday night with highs in the mid to upper 80s Thursday.

LONG TERM

(Thursday night through Monday) Issued at 1023 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

In the long term period, we are monitoring a low pressure system potentially shifting from the Great Plains into the mid Mississippi Valley on Friday into Saturday. Ahead of this, a frontal boundary could push northeastward into the area and bring widespread showers/thunderstorms with the assistance of an increasing LLJ (~40 kts). Have continued blended guidance through the weekend due to uncertainty in evolution of the system, with medium to high chances of rain Saturday into Sunday. If you have outdoor plans this weekend, its recommended to check back in for the latest forecast as we approach the end of the work week.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1253 PM CDT Tue Jul 28 2026

VFR conditions will persist through the TAF period with low chances for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon through the early overnight hours. With chances so low (<20%) we left TSRA out of the TAFs for now until radar trends warrant adding weather to the TAFs. Otherwise, expect increasing high clouds and light west winds veering to the north through the period.

HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

AL...Extreme Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for ALZ001>003.

Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ALZ004>010-016.

TN...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for TNZ076-096-097.