Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
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290 FXUS64 KHUN 271042 AFDHUN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 542 AM CDT Sun Sep 27 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 741 PM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026 - A warming trend will take place this week with increasing humidity yielding a Moderate Heat Risk in some areas. - Low chances of thunderstorms exist late next week into the weekend. && .NEAR TERM... (Today) Issued at 312 AM CDT Sun Sep 27 2026 Temperatures across the area this morning are in the lower 50s in southern middle TN and the mid to upper 50s in northern AL. With the exception of some high clouds streaming through, most locations are reporting clear skies. We continue to be positioned inbetween an upper level trough along the East Coast and a ridge to our west over the Plains. The northwest flow pattern will reinforce the dry airmass through the day with afternoon highs warming into the 80s. Looking at last nights BMX sounding and forecast soundings, there is a very dry layer just above the sfc that with daytime heating will mix down. Therefore, dewpoints were blended lower than the NBM. This would match well with what occurred during the afternoon on Saturday. && .SHORT TERM... (Sunday Night through Tuesday) Issued at 741 PM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026 The upper ridge will be flattening tonight into Sunday, allowing a continues northwest flow aloft. Surface high pressure over the Great Lakes into the Appalachians will continue to advect dry air southward, so despite shortwaves dropping southeast into the mid South and lower MS Valley, rain is very unlikely due to dry low to mid levels. Virga would be the only item of note on Sunday entering northwest into central AL. Will watch trends, but keeping the forecast dry. Highs on Sunday will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s with dew points in the 40s, if not upper 30s in some spots depending on mixing. Another item to watch closely in future updates. Similar weather will persist Sunday night (lows in the lower 50s) and Monday (highs in the upper 70s to near 85) as northeast flow in low levels keeps a dry lower atmosphere with dew points in the 40s once again. A weak shortwave meanders east into the OH and TN valleys on Tuesday, but the atmosphere will be too dry to support much if any cloud cover. The dry air and slightly higher 8-9h temps will support highs in the middle to upper 80s. Dew points may edge just a bit further into the lower 50s in most areas with a more southeasterly wind component. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through Saturday) Issued at 741 PM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026 We will begin to transition patterns in the long term period as upper ridging expands over the Plains and eventually into the Southeastern region. This will bring warming temperatures and an increase in humidity toward the mid-late week timeframe. In fact, highs on Wednesday will reach into the upper 80s to lower 90s with dewpoints climbing into the 60s. Thankfully we will be spared from a more intense heat wave this time with temps in the lower 90s and dewpoints near or below 70 degrees. With that said, afternoon heat indices will still reach the low to mid 90s during the Wed-Fri timeframe and could pose a risk for heat related illness for those especially sensitive to heat. The forecast, especially as we head into the weekend, becomes a lot less uncertain as we will remain in a warm, tropical airmass ahead of an approaching upper wave. There are still fairly significant spatial and temporal differences amongst longer range models regarding the speed of an incoming cold front that is progged to impact the TN Valley next weekend. With this in mind, we will stick with blended guidance and message increasing chances (30-65%) for showers and thunderstorms next weekend. Be sure to check back for updates throughout the week especially if preparing for outdoor plans! && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 542 AM CDT Sun Sep 27 2026 VFR flight conditions continue with light northerly winds. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...GH SHORT TERM....17 LONG TERM....25 AVIATION...GH