Northwest Alabama WAFF First Alert Weather

09/04/2026

Muscle Shoals hits 100° for the first time this year today.

09/04/2026

3:40pm. Strong T-Storm near Florence Tracking west. If it holds together it could make it into Cherokee around 4:30. Be careful on Wilson and Pickwick lake due to the lightning and potential for a strong downburst of wind.

09/01/2026

First Alert Weather Days through Saturday. The pattern of hot and dry conditions is expected to continue through the short term, as the upper-level ridge and associated surface high pressure remain firmly entrenched across the region. Major to Extreme HeatRisk will continue across portions of the area through the end of the work week.
This, combined with WBGT values in the 88-90 degree range and afternoon heat indices potentially reaching 105-109 degrees, has prompted a Heat Advisory from 11 AM Wednesday through 8 PM Saturday. High temperatures are expected to climb into the mid to upper 90s each afternoon, with little overnight relief as lows remain in the 70s.
There is also a low 10-20% chance that temperatures could reach 100 degrees Wednesday in urban heat island locations such as Huntsville and Muscle Shoals. If realized, this would be the first 100-degree day of 2026 — and hopefully the only one! Anyone with outdoor plans this week should stay well hydrated, take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning, and use extra caution to avoid heat-related illness.
I expect some relief to arrive around the 15th of September.

08/21/2026

7:35pm. ** Update ** The Storm Prediction Center is watching the area closely this evening as thunderstorms become more widespread. Very warm, humid air is providing plenty of instability, and additional lift moving in from the northwest could help storms increase in coverage over the next few hours.

The main concern would be damaging wind gusts if storms begin to organize into a cluster. However, relatively weak wind shear and increasing stability tonight should limit the overall severe threat.

The SPC says a severe thunderstorm watch is not currently expected, but they are monitoring trends closely. If storms become better organized, the risk for damaging winds could increase quickly.

08/20/2026

One lone cell firing up west of Waterloo at 6:40pm. The air is very unstable and we may be seeing the start of some rapid development. Stay weather alert over NW Alabama.

08/11/2026

The heat of August is coming. Heat Advisory begins Wednesday but we will likely reach Extreme Heat Warning criteria over the weekend.

08/10/2026

Storm chances taper off late this week, but the heat will quickly become the bigger concern.

08/07/2026

Storms spreading out over NW Alabama. Slowly tracking ENE. Expect delays in outdoor plans through at least 7:30pm. A lot of lightning and very heavy rain.

07/31/2026

Storms may not be as intense or organized over NW Alabama Saturday afternoon. Latest guidance shows the getting better organized and more intense as they hit I-65 around 6pm.

07/30/2026

Strong to severe storms possible Saturday afternoon. Very heavy rain, frequent lightnign and damaging wind gusts possible.

⚠️ Saturday Severe Weather Update

An unsettled weather pattern will move into the Tennessee Valley beginning Friday night and continue through Sunday, bringing multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Rain chances will remain elevated into the middle of next week.

Saturday remains the day to watch.

A morning round of showers and thunderstorms should move out of the area by around 10:00 AM, followed by a break in the rain through the late morning and early afternoon. If enough sunshine develops during that break, the atmosphere will become increasingly unstable ahead of a stronger upper-level disturbance.

Between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop over western Alabama and move east across the Tennessee Valley. This second round has the greatest potential to become strong to severe.

Main threats with the stronger storms include:
⚠️ Isolated damaging wind gusts
🌧️ Torrential rainfall that could lead to localized flash flooding
⚡ Frequent lightning

At this time, the tornado threat appears to remain mainly north of the Tennessee Valley, but that could change if the forecast evolves.

Not everyone will experience severe weather, but everyone should remain weather aware Saturday afternoon and evening and have a way to receive warnings.

Sunday will bring another round of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, but they currently look more like typical summertime storms. Lower to medium rain chances (30–60%) will continue into early next week, with temperatures gradually warming back into the upper 80s and lower 90s.