


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
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930 FXUS64 KBMX 181111 AFDBMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 611 AM CDT Mon Aug 18 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 603 AM CDT MON AUG 18 2025 - Medium to high chances of heat indices reaching 105 degrees Monday through Wednesday for areas mainly along and west of I-65. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Tuesday) Issued at 1143 PM CDT SUN AUG 17 2025 Monday, high pressure will remain the main story, with northeasterly flow prevailing between the high centered to the west and the low moving slowly along the western Atlantic. CAMs are really trying to bring in dry air with PW values less than the 75th percentile for this time of year. This would have a large influence on the amount of dry air throughout the atmospheric profile and storm development. A few other models are holding on to moisture remaining high, with PW values closer to the 75th and 90th percentile. Will hedge a little higher than the CAMs for moisture, as moisture has been overperforming the past week. Through the afternoon, isolated development is expected with instabilities meager with a couple thousand J/kg and lowered LI values (even accounting for higher moisture). DCAPE will be around 1100 J/kg, so any storms that can develop will have a chance for strong downburst winds. Highs will be in the mid to upper 90s, with higher values in the west closer to the center of the high pressure. With the anticipated moisture, heat indices will be in or close to the triple digits, with a few areas in the west seeing up to 105 degree values. This Advisory criteria may be more isolated, but with lows consistently in the low to mid 70s, the heat will allow for little breaks and recovery, thus more impacts. Tuesday will be much of the same scenario as Monday, with all models trying to show a decrease in moisture through the afternoon. How much and if any will depend on how closer Erin makes it to the east coast. Isolated diurnal convection is again possible, though chances will be a lot lower for much of the area, with lowered instabilities and LI values. Right now, leaning dry and have most of the area rain free, except for the far east. Heat will again be a concern with less cloud coverage, and heat indices could again be near or at triple digits through the afternoon. Heat Advisories are in place for areas west of I65 through Tuesday afternoon, covering the nighttime hours to account for the higher low temperatures that would add to the heat stress. 24 && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through next Sunday) Issued at 1143 PM CDT SUN AUG 17 2025 Wednesday will be a repeat of Tuesday, with a large influence from how close Erin moves along the coast. Northeasterly flow will increase moisture as the tropical cyclone creates an area of increased rain over the SE CONUS. Activity here could linger through the night. By Thursday, low level flow should shift to a more southwesterly to westerly direction as the high pressure continues to drift to the west, and a low pressure and trough develops over the northern Plains and begins to move east. Moisture will return with PW values returning to the 90th percentile or max values. Scattered activity will be possible each afternoon, increasing in coverage through the weekend as the trough should swing a boundary through the area. Temperatures on Wednesday will remain in the low to mid 90s, with heat indices approaching triple digits. By Thursday, there should be enough cloud cover and convection that temperatures will drop into the upper 80s and low 90s. This would drop heat indices to below triple digits in most places, which should continue through the weekend. 24 && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 603 AM CDT MON AUG 18 2025 VFR conditions are prevailing across all terminals with the exception of ASN where patchy fog has developed. There is a small window over the next hour or two for patchy fog at EET/TCL but confidence is low so have left out of the TAF. Added in a mention of PROB30 at MGM/AUO as the latest CAMS continue to hint at convection across our southern areas this afternoon. Any activity further north will be isolated. Winds remain light outside of any convection through this cycle. NOTE: AMD NOT SKED has been added at TCL until further notice due to comms issues. 95/Castillo && .FIRE WEATHER... Minimum RH values will generally be in the 40 to 55 percent range the next couple afternoons with showers and storms remaining isolated to widely scattered. 20ft winds will remain light. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 95 73 93 72 / 20 10 20 10 Anniston 93 72 92 72 / 20 10 20 10 Birmingham 94 75 93 74 / 20 10 10 10 Tuscaloosa 95 75 96 74 / 20 10 10 10 Calera 94 74 93 72 / 20 10 10 10 Auburn 93 73 92 72 / 20 10 20 10 Montgomery 94 74 94 74 / 20 0 10 10 Troy 93 72 93 72 / 20 0 10 10 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Tuesday for the following counties: Fayette-Greene-Lamar-Marion-Pickens-Sumter-Tuscaloosa-Walker. Heat Advisory from noon today to 8 PM CDT Tuesday for the following counties: Bibb-Blount-Chilton-Dallas-Hale-Jefferson- Marengo-Perry-Shelby-Winston. && $$ SHORT TERM...24 LONG TERM....24 AVIATION...95/Castillo