848
FXUS62 KRAH 241845
AFDRAH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
245 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Above normal temperatures and unsettled weather are expected through
the holiday weekend, with Sunday expected to be the day with the
smallest chance for rainfall. Cooler and drier weather is expected
by the middle of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 240 PM Friday...

Marginal risk of severe thunderstorms mainly southern areas this
afternoon.

The skies have become partly sunny across central NC as of early
afternoon. A surface trough was analyzed over our region extending
from just east of Charlotte to near Norfolk. A disturbance aloft was
moving south from VA into northern NC. Scattered thunderstorms have
been developing around Danville to near Yanceyville associated with
the disturbance. Additional showers and iso thunderstorms were
developing around Fayetteville. Hi-res guidance continued to show
the disturbance and surface trough drifting SE with scattered
thunderstorms over the north-central and NE Piedmont this afternoon.
However, the higher instability has been developing out ahead of the
surface trough over south-central into east-central NC. As expected,
the more NW  / downslope flow in the western Piedmont has been
lowering dew points and instability there.

Areas across southern NC will get the best surface heating due to
the lack of cloudiness. This may overlap with the higher dew points
and instability later today and this evening for a few strong to
isolated severe storms. MLCAPES of 2000 j/kg are expected from the
SE Piedmont into the Sandhills and portions of the Coastal Plain.
Within the strongest updrafts, an isolated risk for strong to severe
downdrafts capable of strong to severe wind gusts and hail will be
possible. Convection should dissipate with loss of diurnal heating
as shortwave ridging builds in over central NC into VA.

A drier thermo-profile overnight will result in mostly clear skies
minus some thin cirrus and result in a more optimal radiational
cooling night and potential for patchy to areas of fog to develop
into early Sat morning. Lows will dip down into the low/mid 60s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT/...
As of 240 PM Friday...

There are lower chances of thunderstorms Saturday, but hot
temperatures expected.

A remnant MCV may be over portions of southwest or far southern NC
at the start of Saturday. The flow aloft would support this MCV
tracking ESE into southern NC or upstate SC Saturday. In addition,
weak surface troughing will hold across our Piedmont with mid/upper
troughing. Strong surface heating will aid in temperatures reaching
the 87-92 range most areas. With high moisture through the column
and higher than average dewpoints in the mid 60s to around 70,
isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible with heating, with
highest chance across the southwest, south, and southeast zones or
per the track of the remnant MCV and near the surface boundary. Some
of the latest hi-res models suggest that much of the convection
Saturday afternoon may be over GA/SC with a minimum over NC. This
trend will be monitored. Otherwise, isolated to scattered
thunderstorms are expected to diminish Saturday evening. Lows will
be generally 65-70.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 245 PM Friday...

Low pressure will move from the central Plains Sunday morning to the
Great Lakes Monday morning, and it appears the relative lull in
precipitation should continue Sunday. Will keep just an isolated
chance of a shower/storm in the forecast during the daytime, and
pops will only increase slightly Sunday night as a cold front enters
the Mississippi River valley. The cold front now appears likely to
cross the region late Monday afternoon, although the highest pops
will still remain to the north where the better dynamics will occur.
There could be a severe threat with the thunderstorms, considering
favorable low-level lapse rates and CAPE values over 1000 J/kg,
although shear to organize storms appears to be on the low side.
There is currently no area outlooked for severe weather on Memorial
Day, however that is likely related to days 4-8 outlooks requiring
at least a slight (level 2 of 5) risk, and a marginal (level 1 of 5)
risk may be added to the forecast issued tonight for Monday.
Widespread rain should depart to the east Monday night, although an
isolated thunderstorm is possible anywhere Tuesday afternoon, with
slightly higher chances south and east of Raleigh. A second cold
front is expected to pass over the region late Wednesday, but this
front should move through without any precipitation. High pressure
will then establish itself over the eastern United States for
Thursday and Friday.

Monday will be the warmest day out of the next seven, with highs
ranging from the mid 80s to the low 90s, with Sunday only a degree
or two cooler. Monday`s cold front should drop highs by about 5
degrees going into Tuesday, with highs falling another 3-5 degrees
on Wednesday and Thursday as well, with similar highs Thursday and
Friday. By the end of next week, highs should range from the mid 70s
to the low 80s. In addition, can`t rule out a couple of possible
cool spots dropping into the upper 40s Thursday night, with
widespread lows in the 50s.

&&

.AVIATION /18z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 115 PM Friday...

Generally VFR conditions are expected this afternoon and evening.
However, there is a chance of a brief shower or thunderstorm with
MVFR conditions, especially from RDU east and south to RWI and FAY
between 20z and 03z tonight. There is also a chance of low stratus
and fog late tonight and early Saturday, especially in those same
areas. Generally VFR conditions are expected Saturday.

Looking ahead: Primarily diurnally driven showers/storms will be
possible at all terminals through Tue. Late night stratus and fog
will also be possible.

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$
SYNOPSIS...Green
NEAR TERM...Badgett
SHORT TERM...Badgett
LONG TERM...Green
AVIATION...Badgett