536
FXUS64 KHUN 241423
AFDHUN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
923 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

...New NEAR TERM...

.NEAR TERM...
(Rest of Today)
Issued at 923 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

A thunderstorm complex that formed before daybreak over northern
Mississippi was moving to the ENE towards far NW Alabama. Showers
and storms associated with this system were overspreading NW AL.
Overall storm strength, per warming cloud tops and a broader
reflectivity appearance suggests the convection moving over NW AL
was on a slight downward trend. That said, some of the individual
cells will still be capable of producing gusty outflow winds and
very heavy downpours. These storms were also electrically active,
with lots of cloud to ground strikes and a broad GLM view as well.

Numerous outflow boundaries were lurking about, with more being
generated by the above mentioned convection, could serve as a
focus for the development of newer convection later today. As
such, some of the CAMs, including the RAP and new NAM were hinting
at this. So have raised rain chances into the Likely (55-74%) for
the higher expected coverage this afternoon. Some of the storms,
especially west of the I-65 corridor could become strong to severe
with damaging outflow wind gusts and hail the the primary
threats. The Storm Prediction Center has our western area under a
Slight Risk (2/5), with the remainder of the area in a Marginal
Risk (1/5). Slow moving showers impacting an area with heavy
downpours could bring ponding of water issues, with flash flooding
a possibility. With better rain chances have trimmed forecasted
high temperatures a tad.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Monday)
Issued at 247 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

If spending time outdoors at all this Memorial Day Weekend, be
sure to know where you will go if there is a thunderstorm in your
area. Unfortunately, we will have multiple rounds of storms to
keep track of throughout the 3-day weekend.

For Saturday, confidence in any strong or severe storms is low,
but our main concern will be a weak zone of surface convergence
moving in from the northwest on the southern flank of a surface
high pressure system tonight. This will provide an area of focus
for storms throughout the day Saturday with medium chances
(40-60%) for the entire region. Timing remains a challenge based
on when storms form to our west and what path they take, as well
as how frequently they reinvigorate along a leading outflow
boundary. If you don`t have a storm form over your area, you will
likely be able to see one in the distance.

A fairly deep fetch of southerly flow in low levels will advect
in more Gulf moisture, as dew points surge into the low 70s on
Sunday. With high temperatures in the low 90s, please be mindful
of heat risks when spending time outdoors, particularly for
sensitive groups. Attention on Sunday turns to a shortwave trough
tracking through the Central Plains with an associated surface low
that will push through the Mid-Mississippi Valley. While storm
chances will be initially low on Sunday morning (10-30% chance),
those will increase overnight as a line of strong to severe storms
forms along a cold front. A recent trend has been for timing to
push back, so while this initially looked to be Sunday
evening/night, it now looks to be closer to midnight to early
morning on Monday (60-80% chance). While not necessarily as
favorable thermodynamically for severe weather, we will have a
good wind profile in place with a LLJ of 30-40 kts to support a
low end tornado threat. Over the next few days, this Sunday
night/Monday morning round will be the one to keep an eye on. The
most likely scenario is that the line of storms will race ahead of
the cold front, lose that stronger forcing to maintain its
severity, and then gradually weaken as it tracks across the area.

Due to lower confidence in timing, we have kept rain chances in
the forecast through Memorial Day on Monday. If the early morning
storms outpace the front, then depending on how much the
environment may recover on Monday, it is entirely feasible that
additional storms could form Monday afternoon with the true
frontal passage. It is not as likely at this time that any storms
that do develop would become severe.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Monday night through Thursday)
Issued at 247 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

A broader troughing pattern sets up Monday night for the eastern
CONUS and will persist through the remainder of next week. While
our next chance at storms is a lower end potential on Wednesday,
the pattern overall looks to be drier with temperatures closer to
daily average values in the low to mid 80s.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 605 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

A line of very electrically active storms was moving toward AL
from northern MS this morning. Current track puts this at MSL just
after 12z and near HSV at 14Z. Expect a few hours of periodic
thunderstorms with gusty winds; AWWs will be likely. Additional
storms are likely in the afternoon, but confidence in timing
remains too low for more than a PROB30 mention. Be prepared for
periodic showers and thunderstorms this weekend through Monday
afternoon.

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...None.
TN...None.
&&

$$

NEAR TERM...RSB
SHORT TERM....30
LONG TERM....30
AVIATION...30