Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
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009 FXUS64 KHUN 181730 AFDHUN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1230 PM CDT Sat May 18 2024 ...New AVIATION... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today) Issued at 918 AM CDT Sat May 18 2024 As a low pressure system moves into the TN Valley from the west, a complex of storms accompanies it- bringing threats of lightning, large hail, gusty to damaging winds, and heavy rainfall/flash flooding this morning into the afternoon. While most CAMs are failing to initialize well enough to give a decent solution on how this event will progress, the 3km NAM shows continued development this morning into the afternoon/evening. With MUCAPE values potentially reaching 2000+ J/kg in addition to sufficient lapse rates (7.0-7.5 C/km), strong updrafts will support hail growth as the storms move through the area. PWATs are 1.5-1.6", reaching the 90th percentile sounding climatology at BMX and proving these slow-moving storms to be heavy rainfall producers. Due to the very weak shear in place (less than 20 kts), we are not forecasting tornadoes to be a threat at this time. Storms should subside late this evening as the aforementioned low continues to move eastward into the Carolinas. Otherwise, high temperatures today will peak in the upper 70s to low 80s under broken to overcast cloud cover. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Tuesday) Issued at 226 AM CDT Sat May 18 2024 Most guidance moves the upper low and upper level trough axis into northern Georgia and southern Alabama this evening. Wrap around shows and a few embedded thunderstorms could persist though in northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. These storms should not be severe given the lack of shear present and declining instability. These showers and thunderstorms could last until around midnight before pushing further east into Georgia. Slightly drier air behind the departing trough axis and surface front should allow lows to drop into the 60 to 65 degree range as you wake up on Sunday morning. Guidance continues to move this upper low east and drag the surface front southeast through the day on Sunday. The result should be a nice day across much of northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. Some morning clouds should give way to mainly partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Clouds and a 20 to 30 percent chance of an afternoon shower or thunderstorm will pop back up far eastern portions of Alabama (due to the back edge of forcing from the upper low to our east/afternoon instability). Not expecting to see much development though or any of these storms if they develop to become severe. This insolation should allow highs to climb back into the lower to mid 80s. Sunday night light winds and clear skies are expected across the area. This could allow lows to drop into the upper 50s to lower 60s. A warmup begins on Monday, as strong upper level ridging starts to build over the area. 925 mb temperatures climb into the lower 20s in the afternoon. With sunny skies, temperature will likely climb into the mid to upper 80s (maybe a tad higher). && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through Friday) Issued at 226 AM CDT Sat May 18 2024 Dry and warm conditions will continue into Tuesday, as upper level ridging amplifies over the area. Highs should approach 90 degrees in a few places. Lows should only drop into the mid 60s to near 70 Tue night. A storm system forecast to form over the Rockies and adjacent High Plains over the weekend will head to the NE, reaching the Great Lakes on Wednesday. A cold front trailing south of it will move across the area on Wed. Moisture convergence and lift preceding it will return medium chances (30-50%) of showers and thunderstorms beginning Tue night. Unsettled weather with scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain in the forecast into Thursday. Overall storm strength should remain "general" with a risk of strong outflow wind gusts, heavy downpours, and sudden and/or frequent lightning. Even with more clouds and rain chances, high temperatures on Wed/Thu should range in the mid/upper 80s, and lows in the 60s. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1230 PM CDT Sat May 18 2024 MVFR conditions should continue to prevail through the afternoon into the evening hours as storms continue through the TN Valley from the west, bringing lowered ceilings and periods of lowered visibilities. Overnight, depending on cloud cover, a low chance of patchy fog exists. If this is realized, lowered visibilities will continue to cause MVFR to IFR conditions at both terminals. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...HC SHORT TERM....KTW LONG TERM....RSB AVIATION...HC