Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
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169 FXUS64 KHUN 171414 AFDHUN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 914 AM CDT Fri May 17 2024 ...New NEAR TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today) Issued at 914 AM CDT Fri May 17 2024 An area of sfc low pressure continues to move eastward along the Gulf Coast, bringing a complex of storms well south of our area (in southern MS/AL) this afternoon. North of this, in the TN Valley, showers are continuing to move northeastward through the area, bringing a low chance of lightning. As the afternoon progresses and instability increases, some stronger storms cannot be ruled out. However, no severe weather is forecast at this time due to the lack of shear present. In any stronger storm that forms, gusty winds and small hail may be present along with heavy rain and lightning. Medium-high rain chances (50-80%) will continue through the afternoon before decreasing to low-medium chances (40% or less) into the evening hours. Broken to overcast cloud cover will allow high temperatures to remain in the upper 60s to mid 70s this afternoon. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Monday) Issued at 255 AM CDT Fri May 17 2024 Whether this area of showers and thunderstorms can maintain itself or strengthen as the front moves into NW Alabama later this evening is a big question mark. Shear is very weak (15 to 25 knots) in most guidance. CAPE is not overly impressive, but does climb to between 500 and 1200 J/KG later today in guidance. Given the weak shear and worked over atmosphere, despite the front moving into NW Alabama and southern middle Tennessee, not expecting precipitation coverage to be much. However, during the day on Saturday, as the front moves further southeast into the area, daytime heating should allow for an area of showers and thunderstorms should reform along the front. Again shear will be very weak. Instability won`t be overly impressive either (mainly 500 to 1000 J/KG). Thus, not expecting any severe thunderstorm activity. However an area of showers and thunderstorms will likely develop. The weak cold front and upper level trough axis associated with it move southeast into southern Alabama and Georgia late Saturday night in all guidance. Returning sunshine and some warm air advection should allow highs to climb back into the upper 70s. By Sunday morning, expect a dry forecast west of the I-65 corridor, as an amplified upper ridge begins building east into the area. Lows will be slightly cooler, but not a lot with temperatures in the 60 to 64 degree range as you wake up. However, with a weak upper low just to our east of southeast along the front, a low chance (20-30%) of showers cannot be ruled out. The very strong upper level ridge working into the area combined with returning sunshine should allow temperatures to climb into the lower to mid 80s. This upper level ridging only become more amplified Sunday night into Monday morning. An upper level disturbance moves well north of the area on the NW side of the upper ridge towards the Ohio Valley into Monday morning. The overall pattern doesn`t change much though into Monday. Lows shouldn`t change much, but highs will likely warm a bit more into the mid 80s in most locations on Monday with dry weather firmly in place. && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through Thursday) Issued at 255 AM CDT Fri May 17 2024 Dry and warm conditions will continue into Tuesday, and thanks to a flow rounding a surface ridge along the east coast. After a mild night with lows in the lower 60s, highs on Monday should rise into the mid 80s under mostly sunny skies. This trend should continue on Tuesday with highs nearing 90 degrees in a few places. Lows in the mid 60s Mon night should range in the upper 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... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 636 AM CDT Fri May 17 2024 VFR CIGS and VSBYS will likely continue for a good portion of the morning. Expect VSBYS and CIGS to become MVFR around 17Z or 18Z at the terminals. Included a tempo group for -SHRA impacting both terminals between 17Z and 22Z and CIGS dropping to around 1000 feet. This may need to be pushed back an hour or two. Then expect predominant MVFR CIGS. For now stayed more conservative with CIGS, but they may need to be lowered after 21Z to below 1000 feet. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...HC SHORT TERM....KTW LONG TERM....RSB AVIATION...KTW