Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC

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430 FXUS62 KMHX 312033 AFDMHX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 433 PM EDT Fri May 31 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Cooler and drier high pressure builds overheadthrough the weekend. High pressure then shifts offshore early next week with temps returning to around normal.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
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As of 415 PM Fri...Mid-level ridging over the eastern CONUS this afternoon is expected to build over the Carolinas tonight in the wake of a departing surface trough lifting further into the open Atlantic this hour. At the surface, high pressure over the Great Lakes will continue to expand over the Carolinas leading to a calm, cool and clear night. Set up is highly favorable for radiational cooling, and continued the trend of showing low temperatures below guidance, especially so for the Outer Banks. Given currently observed Tds in the 40s and 50s and no apparant low level moisture advection overnight, pushed forecast lows a couple degrees lower than the prior forecast with more widespread 40s inland. Only fly in the ointment is potential insulation from cirrus overhead, although right now the only areas this could potentially impact are south of Highway 70. The forecast is close to record-breaking lows...see the CLIMATE section for details.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
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As of 425 PM Fri...Meteorological summer kicks off on a slightly warmer but equally dry note as ridge continues to build overhead and high pressure remains in place. Once again, suspect guidance is running too high on Tds and knocked these down a few degrees during the afternoon hours favoring comfortable values in the low to mid 40s. With increasing low-level heights, temperatures will warm into the low to mid 80s inland, upper 70s along the coast.
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&& .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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As of 330 AM Fri...Cool high pressure remains over the area through the weekend with below normal temperatures and low humidity expected. Then, the high will slide offshore early next week with a return to a summery pattern featuring daily scattered afternoon thunderstorms and highs near normal. Saturday and Sunday...High pressure will shift offshore Sunday. Another cool night expected Saturday night due to strong radiational cooling, and lows could reach the upper 50s to low 60s inland. Monday through Thursday...High pressure will build offshore early next week allowing for a return of summer-like warmth and humidity. Increasing moisture will introduce a risk for isolated to scattered thunderstorms each afternoon with the best chances for rain (~30%) Wednesday and Thursday as weak upper level impulses move through a mostly zonal flow. Temps will return to near normal, with highs reaching the upper 80s to near 90 each day, and lows mostly in the 60s.
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&& .AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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SHORT TERM /through 18Z Saturday/... As of 140 Friday...VFR conditions prevail across all terminals this afternoon as high pressure, centered over the Ohio Valley, continues to build into the Carolinas from the northwest. An area of very weak surface convergence along the northern Pamlico Sound, coupled with enhanced low level moisture, is resulting in a few very isolated showers primarily north and east of the TAF terminals. This threat is entirely diurnal, with clouds and precip threat coming to an end quickly after 22-23z. Beyond this time period, clear skies and calm winds prevail. Airmass is too dry to support widespread fog, but if some terminals decouple effectively enough could see some spotty, minimal-impact MIFG. LONG TERM /Saturday aft through Tuesday/... As of 330 AM Fri...Mostly VFR conditions are expected through the long term as high pressure remains in place across the region. However, strong overnight cooling this weekend could result in the formation of patchy fog...bringing the threat of sub-VFR visibilities to the terminals.
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&& .MARINE...
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SHORT TERM /Tonight and Saturday/... As of 430 PM Fri...Benign boating conditions in place over area waters as high pressure expands over the area from the northwest. Observing a brief surge nearing 25 kt over the Pamlico Sound in the immediate wake of a weak surface boundary quickly diving south towards Cape Lookout, but upstream observations show this surge only lasting a couple hours before easing up. Forecast calls for winds to steadily ease through the night as high moves further overhead, becoming largely light and variable on Saturday. By the afternoon hours, sea breeze circulations will become the dominant driver of surface flow with south to southeasterly winds of 5-10 kt expected nearshore. Currently observed seas of 2-3 feet through the period will remain steady through tonight, dropping to around 2 feet for all offshore waters by Saturday (except 1-2 feet nearshore). LONG TERM /Saturday PM through Tuesday/... As of 330 AM Fri...Good boating conditions expected through the weekend and into early next week with high pressure overhead. Return flow develops Sunday with winds becoming SSW at 10-15 kts. Winds then briefly strengthen to 15-20 kts Sunday night before returning to SW 10-15 kts Monday. Winds become southerly at 5-10 kts on Tuesday. Seas will be mostly 2-3 ft through the period.
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&& .CLIMATE... Record Low temps for June 1, Saturday. LOCATION TEMP/YEAR New Bern 48/1966 (KEWN ASOS) Cape Hatteras 50/1966 (KHSE ASOS) Greenville 45/1930 (COOP - Not KPGV AWOS) Morehead City 48/1984 (COOP - Not KMRH ASOS) Kinston 42/1984 (COOP - Not KISO AWOS) Jacksonville 50/1966 (NCA ASOS) && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MHX NEAR TERM...MS SHORT TERM...MS LONG TERM...TL/SGK AVIATION...SGK/MS MARINE...SGK/MS CLIMATE...MHX