FXUS64 KHUN 200009 AFDHUN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 709 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 945 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 - We will have a high chance (60-70%) for record breaking maximum temperatures on Sunday. && .NEAR TERM... (Tonight) Issued at 151 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Under high pressure influence and clear skies, temps have risen into the high 60s to low 70s. Dew points have been slow to catch up, currently lagging in the low 40s. This has kept RH values comfortably low in the 30-40% range yet high enough to dissuade any concerns for ongoing controlled burns. Through the night, surface flow will transition to the south as high pressure continues to build over the Gulf. This will jump start our prolonged period of WAA and keep temps several degrees warmer than previous nights in the mid to upper 40s. && .SHORT TERM... (Friday through Sunday) Issued at 945 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Through the short term, high pressure will build along the Gulf coast inducing prolonged SSW flow. This will support a strong WAA regime through the weekend with highs rising from the mid 70s on Friday to the mid to potentially high 80s on Sunday. While the high pressure will suppress any widespread rain chances, we will be monitoring Saturday for a low chance for some summer like pop up showers and thunderstorms. The warm and moist environment will support some low instability Saturday afternoon. A very weak passing shortwave aloft will provide additional credence to our low afternoon storm chances with the limiting factor being a surface feature to support convective initiation. Should we see any sort of surface boundary develop Saturday afternoon (temp/moisture gradient, outflow boundary) some pop up thunderstorms will be possible. Again this is currently a low chance, any storms that do develop will remain sub severe. Our attention will quickly switch to Sunday as the strong high surface high pressure and anomalously high 850 and 500 mb temps will support a fairly high chance for record breaking temps. Our current forecast has highs about 15-20 degrees above normal for this time of year on Sunday in the mid 80s. NBM and LREF guidance support a high (60-70%) chance of breaking local high temp records at HSV (83 in 1991) and MSL (82 in 2011). && .LONG TERM... (Saturday night through Wednesday) Issued at 921 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Warm conditions continue on Sunday as the influence of high pressure to our west remains strong. Expect highs to once again return to the low to mid 80s. A cold front attempts to push through Sunday night into Monday, but ensemble guidance keeps the area dry. This will be a feature to watch, as latest model guidance does show precip across KY/N TN. However, it will be a bit cooler to start the work week with temperatures on Monday through Wednesday in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Behind the cold front, northwest flow takes shape bringing a series of shortwave through the area. Lots of uncertainty in timing of these features, but at least a low chance of showers is expected Tuesday into Wednesday. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 709 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 VFR conditions will persist through the TAF period with light/var winds overnight becoming SW with gusts to 15-20kts at times tomorrow. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...RAD SHORT TERM....RAD LONG TERM....GH AVIATION...25