Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Highland Lakes, Alabama Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Highland Lakes weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Highland Lakes, AL
Saturday, July 4 at 11:21 PM
79
°
Clear
Feels like
83°
Humidity
61%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
12:42 AM
Sunset
3:00 PM
Highland Lakes, AL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastHighland Lakes, AL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 74 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit with a 30% chance of precipitation at 3 PM.
L 74°H 92°
Highland Lakes, AL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Partly Cloudy
    19%
    —
    92°71°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Light Rain
    30%
    0.08″
    92°74°0°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Heavy Showers
    70%
    1.2″
    82°72°-10°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Drizzle
    41%
    —
    91°70°+9°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    13%
    —
    93°70°+2°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    T-storm w/ Hail
    12%
    —
    86°70°-7°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    44%
    —
    89°71°+3°
Highland Lakes, AL
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°70°83°96°6p12a6a12pnow 80°high 92°low 74°PRECIP %
Highland Lakes, AL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NE
047° · backing 47°
Direction
NE
047°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
4
mph
Peak 24h
15
avg 3
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 3 · pk 15 @ 12:00a
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 292SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Highland Lakes, AL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
987.9
+0.7 mb in 3h · rising · 29.17 inHg
Now
987.9
mb
3h
+0.7
mb
12h
-3.3
mb
24h
-1.4
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 987–991
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW991.3986.8988.0
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Highland Lakes, AL
Air quality
58
AQI
Moderate
↓-19 in 6h

AQI 58 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 19 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM2.5 at 24.9 µg/m³ (AQI 80) with a 0.91 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
24.9μg/m³
PM 10Good
28μg/m³
NO₂Good
16μg/m³
OzoneGood
58μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 24.9 µg/m³ (AQI 80) with a 0.91 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.91
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³390
Highland Lakes, AL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
59.3mi
UNLIMITED
88 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
04:21 UTC · Highland Lakes, AL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
04:21 UTC · Highland Lakes, AL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Highland Lakes, AL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Highland Lakes, AL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Highland Lakes, AL
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:14 AM
Sunrise
12:42 AM
Daylight
14h 18m
Sunset
3:00 PM
Civil dusk
8:29 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Highland Lakes, AL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
76% illuminated
Moonrise
10:59 PM
Moonset
11:01 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Highland Lakes, AL
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Highland Lakes at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 79°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: March 7 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

16-Day Forecast — Highland Lakes

  1. Sat92°71°19%
  2. Sun92°74°30%
  3. Mon82°72°70%
  4. Tue91°70°41%
  5. Wed93°70°13%
  6. Thu86°70°12%
  7. Fri89°71°44%
  8. Sat90°69°54%
  9. Sun86°67°48%
  10. Mon79°67°25%
  11. Tue89°66°15%
  12. Wed93°70°23%
  13. Thu90°72°26%
  14. Fri92°71°42%
  15. Sat93°73°41%
  16. Sun95°72°39%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Highland Lakes

SPC has placed Highland Lakes in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

In Highland Lakes, July runs warmest near 80°F and January coldest around 42°F, while March is the wettest month (5.7 inches) and October the driest (2.4 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January42°5.2″15
February46°4.7″14
March53°5.7″17
April61°4.8″15
May69°3.2″15
June77°3.6″16
July80°4.2″23
August79°4.6″22
September74°2.8″13
October65°2.4″9
November52°4.3″12
December45°5.5″15

Regional context

Highland Lakes's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 42°F Januarys with 80°F Julys — a 38°F swing. About 51.1 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 185 days a year.

Highland Lakes's precipitation spreads evenly: March peaks at 5.7 inches on 16.7 wet days, while October holds 2.4 inches over 9.1 — no month dominates Highland Lakes's rain calendar. That even rhythm groups Highland Lakes with places like Eagle Point, AL, Meadowbrook, AL and Brook Highland, AL.

Highland Lakes's growing window opens around mid-March, once Highland Lakes's overnight lows stop freezing — sow peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Hold Highland Lakes's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Highland Lakes's last frost. It shuts near mid-December, when freezes return to Highland Lakes and tender plants need cover. Within Highland Lakes, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Highland Lakes's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Eagle Point, AL, Meadowbrook, AL, Brook Highland, AL, Shoal Creek, AL, Chelsea, AL.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Highland Lakes?
In Highland Lakes, expect the last spring frost near mid-March; Highland Lakes's first autumn frost comes around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Highland Lakes?
Rainfall in Highland Lakes peaks in March near 5.7 inches, out of about 51 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Highland Lakes?
The warmest stretch in Highland Lakes comes in July, around 80°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Highland Lakes?
On average January is the chilliest month in Highland Lakes, about 42°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Highland Lakes?
Time tomatoes in Highland Lakes for two weeks after mid-March; peas and greens start at Highland Lakes's frost line.
How many rainy days does Highland Lakes get?
Highland Lakes averages about 185 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Highland Lakes?
Highland Lakes's hardiness zone tracks its winter low; with January near 42°F, check the USDA ZIP map for the exact zone.
What is the 10-day forecast for Highland Lakes?
Highland Lakes's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Highland Lakes?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Highland Lakes in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Highland Lakes?
Current conditions for Highland Lakes and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Highland Lakes forecast updated?
The Highland Lakes forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Highland Lakes?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Highland Lakes are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Highland Lakes?
The next few days in Highland Lakes's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Highland Lakes, Alabama has a humid subtropical climate: January averages roughly 42°F, July about 80°F, 38°F between them.

In a typical year Highland Lakes records about 51 inches of precipitation on around 185 days.

At 33.4°N, Highland Lakes's 38°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Highland Lakes's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Alabama →

Hoover, AL weather →

ZIP codes in Highland Lakes

  • 35242

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.