FXUS64 KHUN 200635 AFDHUN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 135 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1014 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 - A low chance (20-30%) for showers and thunderstorms will return Saturday afternoon. - We will have a high chance (60-70%) for record breaking maximum temperatures on Sunday. && .NEAR TERM... (Rest of tonight and Friday) Issued at 1014 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Northwest flow will continue aloft overnight as high pressure over the Appalachians dominates the weather locally. This will keep mild and dry conditions in place overnight with light/variable winds and clear skies. Radiational cooling will allow temps to drop into the 40s with the coldest temps felt across the higher terrain of NE AL. Some patchy fog may develop especially in sheltered areas and river valleys. As high pressure builds over the Gulf, the warming trend will continue through Friday as southwest flow brings a more tropical airmass into the area. Temps will climb about 10 degrees, with highs in the mid to upper 70s, potentially reaching the 80 degree mark in some locations west of I-65. With subsidence in place we will maintain a dry forecast through tomorrow. && .SHORT TERM... (Friday night through Sunday) Issued at 1014 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 High pressure/ridging to our south will continue over the weekend with warm and mostly dry conditions in place, with the one caveat being a shortwave that may bring a few light non-severe showers/thunderstorms to the area Saturday afternoon. Although moisture looks a bit limited with this wave, forcing from this wave may be strong enough to generate a few showers across central and eastern portions of the forecast area. For now we will keep PoPs capped at 20-30% but will continue to watch trends as we head into the weekend. Otherwise, expect highs in the 80s and potentially record high temps on Sunday. With current highs forecast in the mid 80s, local high temp records at HSV (88 in 1907) and MSL (89 in 1907) may be in danger of being broken if current trends are too cool. Overnight lows will be warm as well, only falling to the 50s so no chance of any freeze through the weekend. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through Thursday) Issued at 1014 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Overall, there are little significant changes in the overall synoptic pattern through the mid-week period aside from a weak cold front expected to move through the area on Monday. While this won't bring any rain to the area, we will notice cooler temps in the 70s Monday afternoon and in the low to mid 40s overnight Monday into Tuesday. Another weak upper wave will bring low chances for rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, but moisture may be a little more sufficient with this system and may drive PoPs up in future updates. Ridging begins to expand to the east toward the end of the long term period and will result in another warming trend and dry conditions. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 135 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Conditions will remain VFR at the HSV/MSL terminals this forecast period. Few-sct mid and high-level clouds (embedded within NNW flow aloft) are anticipated early this morning, with a gradual increase in boundary layer moisture supporting development of a sct Cu field by 15-16Z (that will dissipate shortly after sunset). Although a lgt SSE wind should inhibit formation of BR/FG for most of the region, brief vsby reductions could occur in wind- sheltered valleys early this morning (mainly btwn 10-13Z). Sfc winds will veer to SW and strengthen to 8G16 kts by 15Z, before subsiding once again this evening. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...25 SHORTTERM...25 LONG TERM...25 AVIATION...70/DD