If you stepped outside this morning in the Rocket City, you probably felt that familiar, heavy dampness. It’s been a gray, soggy start. Honestly, the weather today in Huntsville is doing that classic North Alabama "bait and switch" where it teases you with mild-ish temperatures before pulling the rug out. We’re currently sitting in a transition zone that’s going to make the drive home look a lot different than the drive in.
Right now, a cold front is slicing its way through the Tennessee Valley.
The Current Situation on the Ground
As of mid-afternoon, temperatures at Huntsville International Airport are hovering around 47°F. It feels a bit colder, though—more like 42°F—thanks to a 10 mph wind kicking in from the west. If you're near Memorial Parkway or driving through Madison, you’ve likely dealt with that light, persistent rain. The National Weather Service in Huntsville has been tracking this band of moisture all day, and while the chance of precipitation was effectively 100% this morning, we are finally seeing the back edge of those clouds.
But don't let the clearing skies fool you into thinking it's getting warmer.
It’s actually the opposite. This front is dragging a massive slug of dry, Arctic air behind it. We peaked at about 51°F earlier, and it's all downhill from here. Basically, once that sun goes down—which happens at 4:59 PM today—the bottom is going to drop out of the thermometer.
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Tonight: A Hard Freeze is Coming
If you haven't brought the dog in or covered those sensitive outdoor plants yet, you might want to handle that before dinner. We are looking at a projected low of 26°F tonight. That is a 25-degree swing from our daytime high.
It’s going to be a "dry cold" though. The humidity, which was sitting at a stifling 84% earlier, is plummeting as the wind shifts. By the time you wake up tomorrow morning, it’ll be clear, crisp, and painfully cold. The wind is expected to stay active at about 13 mph, which means wind chills will likely dip into the teens.
Why the sudden shift?
Meteorologists at WZDX and the NWS have been highlighting this "CAA" (Cold Air Advection) for the last 48 hours. Essentially, the high-pressure system building in from the northwest is pushing the moisture toward the Atlantic and replacing it with air straight from Canada.
- Rain ending: Expect the last of the sprinkles to move out by 6:00 PM.
- Sky clearing: It'll be mostly clear by midnight.
- The Wind factor: Northerly gusts will make it feel significantly colder than the actual temperature.
Looking Ahead: Is Snow on the Horizon?
Everyone in Alabama asks the same thing the second the temperature hits freezing: "Will it snow?"
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For tonight, the answer is a firm no. The air is drying out too fast. By the time the temperature is low enough for snow, there won't be any moisture left in the column to freeze. However, local experts are keeping a very close eye on Friday night and Saturday morning.
There is a secondary trough moving into the Midwest that could drape another front across the South. Current guidance suggests a low (about 20%) chance of a rain-snow mix late Friday night. Accumulation looks unlikely right now, but as anyone who lived through the 2024 freeze knows, things can change fast in this part of the country.
Practical Steps for Huntsville Residents
Since we are moving into a period of sustained cold—with highs tomorrow likely struggling to get out of the 30s—there are a few things you should actually do. Local authorities, including the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and Huntsville Utilities, often see an uptick in calls during these first major freezes of the year.
Water your outdoor plants now. It sounds counterintuitive, but moist soil stays warmer than dry soil. It creates an insulating effect for the roots. Julie Martin from FOX54 recently pointed out that watering before the 32-degree mark hits can be the difference between a dead shrub and a healthy one come spring.
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Check your tire pressure.
These 20-to-30-degree temperature drops cause the air in your tires to compress. If your "Low TPMS" light pops on tomorrow morning, don't panic; it’s just the physics of the weather today in Huntsville catching up with your car.
Drip those faucets.
If you live in an older home with exposed pipes or crawl spaces, tonight is the night to start a slow drip. We aren't in a deep-deep freeze yet, but 26°F is low enough to cause issues in poorly insulated areas.
Protect the "Four Ps"
- People: Check on elderly neighbors.
- Pets: Bring them inside.
- Pipes: Drip the faucets.
- Plants: Cover them or bring them in.
The rain is almost gone, but the real winter is just arriving. Stay warm tonight, Huntsville. It’s going to be a frosty one.