Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
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065 FXUS64 KHUN 181757 AFDHUN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1157 AM CST Tue Nov 18 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1127 AM CST Tue Nov 18 2025 - A broken band of showers and thunderstorms will impact the region from late this evening through early Wednesday morning, with a conditional risk for a few strong storms (mainly across northwest AL/southern TN). - After a brief intrusion of drier air Wednesday night, a warm/humid airmass will remain in place through the first half of the weekend. - There is a high (60-80%) chance for rain and some thunderstorms on Friday and Friday night. && .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today and Tonight) Issued at 1127 AM CST Tue Nov 18 2025 A weakening mid-level shortwave trough will progress east- southeastward from western IA into northern portions of IL/IN over the course of the day, as it enters a region of increasingly confluent flow between a broad scale trough over eastern Canada and a subtropical ridge expanding northward across the southeastern Gulf/northwestern Caribbean Sea. At the surface, a decaying area of low pressure will shift southeastward from eastern KS/western MO into the Mid-MS Valley by 0Z, with strengthening SSW flow around the western periphery of an anticyclone to our east allowing the eastern edge of a maritime tropical airmass (featuring dewpoints in the u50s-l60s) to spread into the region this afternoon. Present indications are that widespread rain and elevated convection related to warm/moist advection near and south of the cyclones effective warm front (but atop a lingering dry airmass in the boundary layer) will be confined to points north of the TN-KY border, and although a few showers may develop over the course of the afternoon as dewpoints rise across western/middle TN, we will keep our forecast dry at this time. Regardless of the recent increase in mid-level stratus, sufficient insolation should occur for highs to reach the l-m 70s, especially with a SSW wind of 10-15 MPH (gusting to 20-25 MPH). The degenerating 500-mb trough will accelerate east- southeastward into the Mid-Atlantic Coast overnight, with the increasingly ill-defined area of low pressure expected to open into a trough and shift further southeastward into eastern portions of TN/KY by 12Z. However, low-level convergence should remain sufficient for the development of surface-based convection late this afternoon across southeastern MO/southern IL/western KY that may expand into a broken band of showers/thunderstorms from eastern AR into eastern KY over the course of the evening (potentially beginning to impact the northwestern portion of the CWFA by 4-6Z before spreading southeastward during the early morning hours Wednesday). Although the intensity of convection will be on a weakening trend as it tracks across our region (due to both an inversion in the 5-10 kft layer and nocturnally diminishing CAPE), WNW flow aloft of 40-50 knots will support storm organization (should any deeper updrafts evolve) and 850-mb westerly flow of 25-35 knots could lead to weak low-level rotation in this scenario. Thus, there is at least a very low risk for a few stronger cells (especially as storms initially enter the CWFA). Otherwise, we anticipate a cloudy and mild night, with lows in the u50s-l60s. && .SHORT TERM... (Wednesday through Thursday night) Issued at 1127 AM CST Tue Nov 18 2025 Latest short range model consensus suggests that a subtropical ridge to our south will amplify northward across the Gulf Coast on Wednesday, in response to a slow-moving southern stream trough across the southwestern CONUS/northwestern Mexico. In the wake of nocturnal showers and thunderstorms (which should be exiting the southeastern portion of the forecast area around 12Z Wednesday), a moist airmass (with dewpoints in the l-m 60s) will remain in place across the region, with abundant low stratus clouds throughout the day likely to prevent redevelopment of convection tomorrow afternoon even as afternoon temps rise into the m-u 70s. A remnant low-level confluence axis (initially across TN) may drift southward into the local area Wednesday night, providing at least some influence from a surface high centered across New England. Should this occur, light NE winds may briefly advect dewpoints in the m-u 50s into the region, providing for cooler overnight lows Thursday morning. Current thinking is that the boundary will lift northward once again late Thursday morning, as the southern stream trough (mentioned above) begins to accelerate northeastward, inducing surface pressure falls across southwest TX. Throughout the day, an axis of rain and embedded convection will likely setup in the vicinity of the warm front from the Ozarks into central KY/middle TN, but with this axis likely to be displaced to our north, we will only mention a 20-30% POP across our northern zones Thursday afternoon/evening. Additional showers may develop early Friday morning from the Lower MS Valley into northern MS as the southwesterly low-level jet begins to strengthen once again, but this should largely remain to our west through 12Z Friday. Highs will remain in the m-u 70s Thursday afternoon, with lows rising back into the u50s-l60s Friday morning. && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 926 PM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 Our main feature in the long term will be the passage of an upper low and associated surface cold front on Friday. While it is still a little too early to nail down specifics, a few trends are becoming apparent. Boundary moisture looks to be plentiful on Friday with at least some instability present. This is favorable for some stronger storms with the passage of the front. However, the weakening low calls into question how much forcing the front will maintain by the time it reaches our area. Without any significant forcing, strong to severe storms will be less likely. The front looks to pass late Friday evening into overnight, potentially limiting the amount of instability present. We will keep an eye on forecast details for this feature as it draws closer. Weak ridging will build in behind the front inducing NW flow. This will drop our temps to the mid to high 60s during the day and 40s overnight. Unfortunately enough moisture looks to linger behind the front to keep partly cloudy skies and low (10-30%) rain chances each day through the weekend and into the start of next week. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1157 AM CST Tue Nov 18 2025 Mid-level stratus will continue to expand across northern AL this aftn, with cloud bases expected to descend after 21Z due to an increase in boundary layer dewpoints within a SSW flow regime of 12G22 kts. This trend will continue into the evening hours as well, with MVFR cigs anticipated at both terminals by 3Z. To our northwest, a broken axis of SHRA/TSRA will become established over the course of the evening in the vicinity of a decaying area of low pressure and remnant wind shift axis. Should this activity hold together as it spreads across our region during the early morning hours Wednesday, it would likely impact MSL/5-9Z and HSV/6-10Z, and this is the timeframe when PROB30 groups have been indicated for MVFR vsby reductions. Although precipitation will should end at the terminals prior to 12Z, low stratus clouds will persist thru the end of the TAF period with lgt/vrbl winds. Although a westerly low-level jet will increase to 25-35 knots late this afternoon and this evening, conditions appear too marginal to include LLWS in the TAFs attm. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...70/DD LONG TERM...RAD AVIATION...70/DD