-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
698
FXUS64 KHUN 221710
AFDHUN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1210 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...New AVIATION...

.NEAR TERM...
(Rest of Today)
Issued at 915 AM CDT Wed May 22 2024

Today will begin a very active weather pattern with chances for
strong to severe storms nearly every afternoon. Our weather and
storm chances today will be driven by a slow moving front off to
our NW. Broken to overcast clouds moving ahead of this will
continue to plague the area through most of the the day. Periods
of clearing will allow for temps to again rise into the mid 80s.
The warm moist environment this afternoon will support a low
chance of diurnal strong to severe storms. Any storms that do
develop will be scattered in nature and post threats for hail,
wind, and frequent lightning. Diurnal storms will die off as the
sunsets. We will then trade our diurnal forced storm chances to
frontal forced storm chances. Near sunset through overnight low
chances for strong to severe storms will continue this time in
association with the cold front progressing east. Best chances for
frontally forced storms will be in NW AL and our TN counties.
Storms will likely die down in the early morning hours as the
lingering favorable thermodynamic profile cools down.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Saturday)
Issued at 354 AM CDT Wed May 22 2024

Shower/thunderstorm chances will gradually expand overnight as
storms tied to a slow-moving front to our northwest. Sufficient
instability will remain in place to support a strong storm or
two. However, better chances for strong to marginally severe
storms will exist Thursday as the front shift ESE toward the
Tennessee Valley and interacts with a passing shortwave. Shear
profile will be more than sufficient enough to support organized
clusters of storms especially during the afternoon/evening and
portions of the overnight hours -- with damaging winds, hail, and
locally heavy rainfall being the main threats.

The active pattern will continue into the day on Friday as
another sharper shortwave traverses the area, with the combination
of the added shear and thermodynamic environment supporting the
potential for some strong/marginally severe storms during the
afternoon/evening hours (PoPs ~ 40-70%). Medium chances for
showers/storms will continue on Saturday given the environment in
place and some likely residual outflow boundaries across the area.
A subtle ridging axis may stunt convection slightly, especially
with the aforementioned shortwave well to the east. Highs during
this period will be slightly above normal, peaking in the mid 80s
each day in most locations.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 354 AM CDT Wed May 22 2024

A more vigorous shortwave will pivot from the central/southern
Plains into the Ohio Valley/Great Lakes on Sunday, bringing
widespread convection to portions of the Mid South and lower Ohio
Valley -- including the potential for a regional outbreak of
severe weather over those regions. Closer to home here in the
Tennessee Valley, a threat for strong to severe thunderstorms will
also exist. Guidance hints at an initial wave of prefrontal
convection during the morning hours on Sunday, followed by an
additional round during the evening hours (into portions of the
overnight hours) directly along the cold front has it pushes
through the area. This second round would be more likely to pose a
threat for severe weather given the potential storm environment in
place. However, it is too early to get too specific on timing
given uncertainties in the evolution of this system and what
exactly the storm environment would support. Still this bears
close watching in the coming days, especially given that it will
occur during the busy Memorial Holiday weekend. Additional chances
for showers and storms will exist Monday (40-60%) and Tuesday
(20-30%) before ridging helps to dry us out by the middle of next
week. By Tuesday, guidance favors a subtle air mass chance as
drier air works its way in and highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s
will be common.

&&

.AVIATION...
-- Changed Discussion --
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1210 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

The prevailing terminal conditions will be VFR through the TAF
period. It is likely we will see showers and thunderstorms this
evening and overnight however their timing and location are highly
uncertain right now. Better chances for storms will develop just
before 0Z with MSL being more favorable. TS will be possible
through the night yet with low confidence in timing and coverage
kept it as VCTS in the TAF. Tomorrow morning showers will remain a
possibility yet TS is less likely thus kept it as VCSH in the TAF.
-- End Changed Discussion --

&&

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

$$

NEAR TERM...RAD
SHORT TERM....AMP
LONG TERM....AMP
AVIATION...RAD