Weather
North Alabama Weather Alert: 43° to 80° Warmup Oct 18-22
Huntsville, AL – North Alabama residents can expect a substantial temperature turnaround over the coming week, with chilly weekend mornings gradually giving way to afternoon highs approaching 80 degre
By Blake Harrison · 2026-10-16T09:37:17.416Z
Huntsville, AL – North Alabama residents can expect a substantial temperature turnaround over the coming week, with chilly weekend mornings gradually giving way to afternoon highs approaching 80 degrees by Thursday, October 22. The Huntsville area is forecast to reach a low near 43 degrees early Sunday before temperatures climb steadily through the workweek. By Thursday, the National Weather Service expects a high near 80 degrees, creating a 37 degree difference between the weekend's coldest projected reading and the warmest afternoon temperature later in the forecast period.
According to the National Weather Service in Huntsville, an extended stretch of sunshine will follow the arrival of cooler air this weekend. Sunday is expected to reach 69 degrees, with afternoon temperatures climbing to 72 Monday, 76 Tuesday, 79 Wednesday and 80 Thursday. The gradual increase will bring noticeably warmer afternoons to Madison County and the surrounding Huntsville area, while clear skies and relatively cool nights remain part of the forecast.
A Chilly Sunday Gives Way to Warmer Afternoons The most noticeable morning chill is expected Sunday, October 18, when temperatures near Huntsville could begin around 43 degrees. That follows Saturday's forecast high of just 64 degrees, a considerable change from Friday's projected 81 degrees. The cooler conditions arrive behind a cold front, with northerly winds helping usher in a different air mass across the Tennessee Valley.
By Sunday afternoon, sunshine should allow temperatures to recover to approximately 69 degrees. Clear conditions are expected Sunday night, with temperatures falling to around 44 degrees before another gradual warmup begins Monday. Although the daytime temperatures will become increasingly comfortable, residents heading outdoors early in the morning may still want jackets or additional layers.
Monday, October 19, marks the beginning of a more sustained warming trend. Afternoon temperatures are expected to reach 72 degrees under sunny skies, while Monday night should remain mostly clear with a low near 46 degrees. Tuesday brings another increase, with sunshine and a high near 76 degrees. By Wednesday, temperatures are forecast to approach 79 degrees.
What the Temperature Change Means for Huntsville The extended period of sunshine should offer favorable conditions for outdoor activities, construction projects and travel throughout the Huntsville metropolitan area. Motorists using Interstate 565, U.S. Highway 72 and Memorial Parkway are not facing a forecast of significant precipitation during the Sunday through Thursday period, although drivers should continue monitoring changing local conditions.
The temperature transition will be especially noticeable when comparing weekend mornings with midweek afternoons. Sunday's projected low of 43 degrees is substantially cooler than Thursday's anticipated high near 80 degrees. However, the change is expected to unfold over several days rather than occurring suddenly, giving residents time to adjust clothing and outdoor plans.
The warmer afternoons will not immediately eliminate cool nighttime conditions. Tuesday night is forecast to fall near 48 degrees, followed by approximately 49 Wednesday night. These readings suggest that even as daytime temperatures approach 80 degrees, mornings will continue to feel noticeably cooler than afternoons.
Sunshine Continues Through Thursday Thursday, October 22, currently stands as the warmest day in the available Huntsville forecast, with sunshine and a high near 80 degrees. No additional precipitation chances are identified in the supplied point forecast after Friday, supporting an extended period of predominantly dry conditions across the immediate area.
The forecast also indicates that the strongest winds should occur before the main warming trend. Saturday may bring north winds around 15 mph, with gusts reaching 25 mph, before conditions become more settled heading into Sunday and the new week.
Residents should continue checking updated forecasts as the week progresses, particularly if planning outdoor events or activities that depend on comfortable temperatures.
Will the return of afternoon temperatures near 80 degrees change your plans for next week?
Five Day Weather Outlook Saturday 10/17: Mostly sunny skies are expected, with a high near 64 degrees and north winds around 15 mph, gusting as high as 25 mph; clear conditions Saturday night will bring temperatures down near 43 degrees.
Sunday 10/18: A chilly morning near 43 degrees will give way to sunshine and an afternoon high around 69 degrees, followed by clear skies Sunday night and temperatures falling to approximately 44 degrees.
Monday 10/19: Sunny skies and gradually warmer temperatures are expected, with an afternoon high near 72 degrees; mostly clear conditions continue Monday night, with temperatures dropping to around 46 degrees.
Tuesday 10/20: Sunshine continues across the Huntsville area as temperatures climb to approximately 76 degrees, marking another step in the warming trend; clear skies Tuesday night will allow temperatures to fall near 48 degrees.
Wednesday 10/21: Sunny conditions are expected with a high near 79 degrees, bringing afternoon warmth closer to 80 degrees; clear skies Wednesday night will accompany a low around 49 degrees.
Extended Weather Outlook Thursday, October 22: Sunny skies are expected across the Huntsville area, with an afternoon high near 80 degrees, making Thursday the warmest day in the supplied forecast.