Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Raleigh/Durham, NC

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882 FXUS62 KRAH 301758 AFDRAH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 158 PM EDT Thu May 30 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A vigorous mid and upper-level disturbance will pivot across and offshore the southern Middle Atlantic through early Friday. Canadian high pressure will otherwise extend across the region through early Saturday, then drift off the coast of the Carolinas by Saturday night.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1055 AM Thursday... The morning forecast update was sent with no notable change from the previous forecast of a seasonably mild and low humidity day, with a a slight-low chance of a shower over the nrn-cntl Coastal Plain this evening-early tonight. .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 240 AM EDT Thu May 30 2024/ Located on the backside of the Eastern US trough, a shortwave over the Great Lakes this morning, will amplify as it digs southeastward through the Mid-Atlantic region late this afternoon and evening, and then coastal/eastern NC tonight and early Friday morning before moving offshore. Deep W-NWLY flow will continue to promote a dry airmass across the region, with PWATS of 0.6-0.7" registering in the lowest 10th percentile of the climatological data set. Similarly, BL dewpoints are expected to advect and mix out into the mid to upper 40s across much of the area. Instability will be greatly lacking across the area as afternoon temps warm into the mid/upper 70s north to lower 80s south, which is slightly below normal for this time of year. Despite the dry air in place, coastal plain counties will have a chance of seeing a few showers during the late evening and overnight hours as the upper PV anomaly and associated elevated lapse rates ascends upon eastern NC. Elsewhere, dry conditions should persist as Canadian high pressure builds south into the area. Lows tonight in the lower to middle 50s, with a few upper 40s possible in the typically cooler northern Piedmont locations. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 240 AM Thursday... Any ongoing shallow convection to start the day should be east of the forecast area with synoptic scale subsidence overspreading the area from the west as the upper trough moves offshore. The weather headlines will be the cool, below normal temperatures and ultra comfortable humidity as Canadian high pressure settles over much of the Eastern Seaboard. Highs are expected to range from lower/mid 70s north to upper 70s/near 80 south, which will feel cooler thanks to 30 and 40 degree reading dewpoints. Anyone with outdoor plans Friday evening may want to bring along a light sweater or jacket as temps should drop off quickly into the upper 50s/lower 60s, with overnight temps expected to bottom out in the mid to upper 40s north to lower 50s elsewhere. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 200 AM Thursday... A series of northern stream lows will track eastward through Canada through the middle of next week, with a number of s/w disturbances rotating about the lows potentially impacting the weather across the mid-Atlantic and Carolinas. The sub-tropical ridge will progress slowly eastward through the area Sat/Sat night as a s/w trough move eastward through the MS Valley. This s/w will then continue generally eastward across the Appalachians and through the mid- Atlantic Sun/Mon, however the timing and track differ between the medium-range guidance. Another s/w will follow behind it but, similar to the first s/w, the model differences continue wrt timing and track. A northern stream s/w ejecting eastward from a low over western Canada will deepen as it moves along the US/Canada border Tue/Wed, closing off over then tracking eastward through the Great Lakes Wed/Wed night. At the surface, cool high pressure move slowly esewd through the Carolinas Sat/Sat night. The high will move ese to off the Carolina/Southeast US coast on Sun, where it should sit through Mon then slowly drift eastward Tue/Wed. A warm front should lift through the area Sun night/Mon, with southerly return flow once again advecting warm, moist air into the area through early next week. Surface flow should become increasingly swly as the high shifts further offshore, with more of a Gulf influence by mid-week. A bit of a low confidence precipitation forecast from Sun through Wed given the uncertainty wrt the shortwaves. For now, expect largely dry weather through Sun, with chances for precipitation returning for Sun night through Wed. Temperatures should be near to slightly below normal through Sun, then return to near/above normal and moderate through mid next week. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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As of 155 PM Thursday... Canadian high pressure will build from the Great Lakes swd and across the Carolinas, with associated influence for light nly surface winds and VFR conditions through Friday. There will, however, be a slight chance of a shower near and northeast of RWI early tonight, accompanying the passage of a vigorous mid/upr-level disturbance. Outlook: Return flow warmth and moisture, combined with a lee trough or weak surface front, will result in a chance of mainly diurnal showers/storms Sunday through the middle of next week.
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&& .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...MWS/CBL SHORT TERM...CBL LONG TERM...KC AVIATION...MWS