Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA

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307
FXUS61 KRNK 171742
AFDRNK

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
142 PM EDT Fri May 17 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Another storm system will cross the area today through late
Sunday. This system will bring widespread rain to the area.
Monday and Tuesday look drier. High temperatures generally look
to be in the 60s and 70s through the weekend, with a slight
warming trend beginning Monday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 125 PM EDT Friday...

A stalled boundary remains draped across the region, currently
situated in a northwest to southeast fashion across the CWA.
Roughly from Hot Springs, VA to Lynchburg, VA and South Boston,
VA. Weak east/northeast flow to the east of this boundary has
remained rather stable. However, some better destabilization has
occured west of the boundary and although heating has been
limited due to ample cloud cover, still some modest SBCAPE of
around 1000 J/kg or less. This is evident by some isolated
convection already occuring in and around the Grayson Highlands
and NW North Carolina.

Should see coverage of rain and storms continue to increase
through this evening and overnight hours as better lift moves
across the region. Rainfall intensity is also expected to
increase as Precipitable Water values will be nearing 1.5".
Slow moving storms anchored across the stalled boundary will be
concern through the overnight hours where weak convergence could
lead to nearly stalled storms across the Southern Shenandoah
Valley. No plans to extend the Flood Watch to include any other
counties at the moment.

Rain potentially continues through tomorrow morning with a lull
in the activity nearing sunrise. Widespread cloud cover will
persist through tomorrow, but better lift with an approaching
upper wave will likely produce another round of rain and
thunderstorms by early afternoon. Heavy rainfall will be the
main threat again, leading to the potential for localized
flooding.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
As of 130 PM EDT Friday...

Key Message:

1. Continued precip chances through Sunday then drier into the work
week.

The upper low and enhanced moisture field across the Southeast to
Mid-Atlantic will continue to allow for scattered shower and
thunderstorm development through Sunday, then upper ridging
amplifies to the west into the Ohio Valley. This wins over as it
pushes the low and moisture axis east of the CWA by Sunday night and
the prevailing drier subsident airmass is progged to persist
into the first half of the work week.

Max temps look to be a bit below climo norms Sunday, then gradually
warm Monday and Tuesday due to the dry ridge.

Forecast confidence is high.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 130 PM EDT Friday...

Key Message:

1. Shower and storm chances return.

As the upper ridge of high pressure is looking to dampen and shift
eastward, a broad trough may push an elongated front across the area
Wednesday into Thursday and increase scattered convection potential.
There are discrepancies in the guidance with progression of this
feature and if there is another ridge or shortwave trough on its
heels for Friday. Have kept general chance pops for much of the
period. Max temps should mainly be above normal. Thursday temps
have greater uncertainty due to the question of the front timing.

Forecast confidence is medium.

&&

.AVIATION /17Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 130 PM EDT Friday...

A mix of MVFR and VFR across the area this afternoon. Some light
rain will continue, but will begin to see an increase in rain
and thunderstorms as the rest of the day progresses. Some rain
will be very heavy at times. Scattered rain/thunderstorms
continue overnight with widespread LIFR/IFR ceilings and
visibilities developing late tonight into early Saturday
morning. Clouds remain and MVFR seems likely through the
remainder of Saturday morning.


EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

Precipitation will continue through the weekend with numerous
showers and thunderstorms on Saturday and Saturday night.
MVFR/IFR clouds and showers remain in the area for Sunday and
Sunday night.

Some improvements by Monday as the slow moving storm system
begins to depart east. Tuesday is the most likely day to be VFR.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...Flood Watch through late tonight for VAZ020-024-035-046-047.
NC...None.
WV...None.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...BMG
NEAR TERM...BMG
SHORT TERM...AB
LONG TERM...AB
AVIATION...BMG