Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL

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090
FXUS64 KHUN 301708
AFDHUN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1208 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

...New AVIATION...

.NEAR TERM...
(Rest of Today)
Issued at 845 AM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

Rain is tapering off quickly this morning as a weak cold front
shifts east of the area. Current satellite trends show rapid
clearing across the western half of the region as drier air pushes
in with the departing mid-level trough. As a result, we will
quickly transition from mostly cloudy conditions to a clear sky by
17-18z across a vast majority of the area. Have some light cloud
cover and some very low (10-20%) light rain chances persisting
along the AL/GA border during the 18-21z window, but otherwise it
should be a pleasant afternoon -- allowing us to dry out from the
1" to 3" of rainfall that fell overnight. Highs will climb back
into the mid 70s (east) to upper 70s to lower 80s (west). Only
tweak to the forecast were to remove the mention of thunder as
everything else remains on track.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Friday)
Issued at 208 AM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

High pressure will begin to shift east into the area late this
afternoon into tonight. The main concern tonight will be fog
development lasting into the morning commute hours. Given recent
rainfall, clear skies, and light winds... will be a favorable
setup for fog in at least the usual fog prone river valleys. Will
have to monitor closely overnight in case a Dense Fog Advisory is
needed. Upper ridging/high pressure will keep conditions warm and
dry through Thursday, with daily highs in the mid to upper 80s
and lows in the lower 60s. Southerly flow will bring increasing
moisture to the area Thursday night ahead of our next system,
resulting in increasing clouds and low chances (20-30%) for
showers and storms over NW AL.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Friday night through Monday)
Issued at 208 AM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

The latest suite of global model guidance suggests that the TN
Valley will remain beneath a region of light and generally
unamplified WSW flow aloft throughout the duration of the extended
forecast period, featuring mid-level wind speeds of 25-30 knots
at most. In the low-levels a warm/moist airmass will reside across
the region, with dewpoints expected to be in the l-m 60s on
Friday/Saturday, before perhaps rising into the m-u 60s on
Sunday/Monday. This will yield seasonably high values of CAPE
(particularly during the afternoon hours, when boundary layer
temperatures should rise into the l-m 80s). At this point, it
appears as if coverage of showers and thunderstorms will be
highest on Friday afternoon/evening, which is the timeframe when a
weak cold front may drift southeastward into the CWFA prior to
stalling. The front may indeed remain in the region for much of
the day on Saturday (warranting a continuation of low-medium
chances for showers and storms), before returning northward on
Sunday as an amplified trough in the northern stream induces
cyclogenesis in the lee of the northern Rockies. Although the
atmosphere will be moderately unstable each day, vertical wind
shear will not be conducive for the development of organized
convection and lightning/locally heavy rainfall should be the
primary storm impacts.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1208 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

Cloud cover will continue to break up this afternoon, with a
return to VFR conditions expected by mid/late afternoon. Clear
conditions will develop by this evening, with light winds. As a
result, some light fog may develop late in the period by early
Wednesday morning due to the moist boundary layer.

&&

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

$$

NEAR TERM...AMP
SHORT TERM....25
LONG TERM....70
AVIATION...25