Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC

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376 FXUS62 KMHX 280638 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 238 AM EDT Tue May 28 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A cold front will move through later today. The next front passes late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
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&& .NEAR TERM /TODAY/...
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As of 215 AM Tuesday... - Marginally severe seabreeze thunderstorms possible (20-40% chance) this afternoon A cold front will cross the Southern Appalachians this morning, then progress southeast across the Carolinas through the day, eventually moving offshore by this evening. The cold front passage will be favorably timed with peak diurnal heating and the development of the afternoon seabreeze. Moisture and instability is forecast to be lower than yesterday, but still respectable (MLCAPE as high as 1000- 2000j/kg). Shear will also be lower (around 20-30kt effective). Short-term guidance varies on the coverage of storms today, but I expect the increased convergence along the front and the pinned seabreeze will be sufficient to produce at least isolated to scattered convection in the 12pm-8pm timeframe. The shear/instability/forcing combination appears favorable for a marginal risk of severe weather (mainly 40-60 mph wind gusts and penny to half-dollar size hail). A couple of notables for today are 1) slightly drier than normal mid-levels, which could enhance downdraft potential, and 2) if MLCAPE is able to build to 2000j/kg+, there could be enough support for a short-lived supercell or two, which would enhance the hail potential. West of HWY 17, I expect it to stay dry as the front is forecast to be through there prior to peak heating. Despite the passage of the front, CAA will be lagging behind, and temps should still be able to warm above climo for late May.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/...
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As of 230 AM Tuesday... - Decreasing thunderstorm risk during the evening A cold front is forecast to move offshore just after sunset this evening, with a decreasing risk of thunderstorms after that time. CAA behind the front isn`t forecast to be overly strong, but it will feel cooler thanks to lowering dewpoints. Some guidance is hinting at the potential for fog development behind the front, perhaps especially where thunderstorms form today. This seems plausible given a lack of stronger post-frontal winds. At this time, though, widespread dense fog is not expected, and ensemble guidance only gives a 10-30% chance of fog.
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&& .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 0400 Monday...Clearing through the week as cool high pressure builds in. Rest of Workweek...Upper trough persists with shortwaves passing through the base of the trough Wednesday and again on Thursday with weak SFC trough developing inland behind the front. This troughing inland will delay the arrival of the SFC high from the NW, keeping temps fairly warm Wed. Temps cool end of the week as the high pressure begins spilling over the area, MaxTs in upper 70s, MinTs in the 50s. Forecast remains dry through this period. Weekend...Upper trough swings through the East Coast and offshore with SFC almost directly overhead Saturday morning pushing offshore through the weekend. Get back to warm Serly flow regime early next week ahead of the next front. && .AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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SHORT TERM /through 06z Wednesday/... As of 130 AM Tuesday... - TSRA risk returns this afternoon along the coast An upper level wave moving off the Georgia coast at this time will lift northeast overnight, with SHRA and TSRA expected to develop offshore. Some guidance suggests these TSRA may clip the Crystal Coast overnight, but even if this occurs, they are expected to remain south of all of our TAF sites. During the day Tuesday, a cold front will move southeast across the area and combine with the developing seabreeze, producing SCT TSRA in the 18-00z timeframe. The TSRA risk may reach as far north as KOAJ, and KEWN. However, with the seabreeze expected to be pinned closer to the coast, those terminals may end up staying dry. For this reason, I opted to leave TSRA out of those TAFs for now. Where TSRA occur, sub-VFR VIS can be expected, in addition to 40kt+ wind gusts and hail. In the wake of the TSRA, low CIGs or BR/FG may develop, especially where the coverage of TSRA is the greatest. LONG TERM /Wednesday through Saturday/... As of 400 AM Monday...A drying trend is setting up for the remainder of the workweek. Periods of sub- VFR conditions are possible but flight cats expected to remain VFR outside of convection.
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&& .MARINE...
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SHORT TERM /through tonight/... As of 230 AM Tuesday... - Improving winds and seas - Thunderstorm risk this morning through late this evening Southwesterly winds have laid down some, and are now in the 10-20kt range early this morning. Seas appear to be peaking now, and are in the 3-5 ft range, highest south of Cape Hatteras. Given the improving conditions, I opted to go ahead and cancel the SCA early. Breezy southwesterly winds will continue through this evening ahead of a cold front approaching from the NW. That front is forecast to move southeast across the waters this evening. Ahead of the front, there will be two opportunities for thunderstorms. The first will be this morning as an upper level wave glances the area. This will primarily impact the southern waters. The second opportunity will be this afternoon through this evening as thunderstorms develop along the seabreeze, then shift southeast towards the coast and offshore. While those should be scattered in nature, the risk could extend as far north as the northern rivers/sounds/coastal waters. Thunderstorms through this evening will be capable of 40kt+ wind gusts and hail. LONG TERM /Wednesday through Saturday/... As of 0400 Monday...The front finally pushes offshore by early Wed. Winds briefly turn Nerly behind the front early Wed before becoming SWerly again as SFC trough approaches and moves through Wed night, turning winds Nerly for the remainder of the work week. Seas generally falling through the week; 2-4ft Tues, 2-3ft Wed, 1-3ft late week.
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&& .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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NC...None. MARINE...None.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...RM SHORT TERM...RM LONG TERM...CEB AVIATION...RM/CEB MARINE...RM/CEB